Active and intelligent packaging technology for Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha)

•Active packages were tested for oxygen absorber, glucose oxidase, nisin, chitosan.•Active packaging had lower TBARS, TVB-N, APC with higher protein content than control.•Phenol red dye can be used as intelligent indicator to judge Hilsa quality.•Active packages enhance shelf life of Hilsa. During long marketing chain, Hilsa rapidly lose quality even in chilled condition. When purchase, consumers often get confused to differentiate between stale and fresh Hilsa. Four different active packages; namely, G1 (commercial oxygen absorber + nisin), G2 (commercial oxygen absorber + chitosan), G3 (glucose oxidase + nisin), and G4 (glucose oxidase + chitosan) were manufactured and tested to overcome these troubles. In case of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, G3 had lowest TBARS value followed by G4, G1 and G2, while control samples had the highest TBARS value. In regard to protein retention, all active packagings showed higher protein retention than control. Bacterial load was highest (4.87 log CFU/g) in control samples while active packagings had 2.29–3.96 log CFU/g. In case of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content, G3 had minimum TVB-N content followed by G4, G1 and G2, while control samples had the highest TVB-N content. Phenol red dyed paper strips, which were used as intelligent indicator, did not change bright orange colour in active packages while turned into yellow and pale yellow in control and unacceptable samples, respectively. Active packagings were able to keep quality of Hilsa good for at least 28 days. Described active packagings technologies should be applied to enhance shelf-life of fishery products.