RESUMO
Fermented fish is a common seasoning used in Northeastern Thailand and Laos to give food a salty taste. It is also used as a basic ingredient for preparing various seasoning sauces for many local dishes. This study examined the effect of sodium reduced fermented fish (SRFF) on reducing the sodium content in prepared traditional papaya salad. Three local producers provide fermented fresh water fish produced with either normal salt (FF) or 60% sodium-reduced salt (SRFF) that were then used by 3 local sauce producers to make papaya salad seasoning sauces. Three local street food vendors then were used these sauces as the main ingredients for preparing their papaya salads. Sodium contents of the FFs, SRFFs, and papaya salads were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer. Significant differences between sodium contents in sauces and papaya salads were evaluated using the t-test. Results showed that the SRFF contained 54% less sodium than the FF, while sodium in the SRFF sauces was approximately 42% less than from FF sauces. The papaya salads prepared from SRFF sauces contained on average 492±27 mg sodium per 100 g, which was 33% lower than those prepared from FF sauces. The use of SRFF could significantly reduce sodium content in traditional papaya salad by up to one-third, which could be beneficial in lowering the risk of hypertension among Norteastern Thai and Laotain people with minimal change in eating behaviors.
