Is Yellow coloring inside a fish normal?

I recently purchased a Bronzini fish from a local market.

From the outside it looks great.

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But on the inside, a portion of the fish is a mucusy yellow

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The other side looks normal whitish/pink.

I was curious if the yellow coloring is normal or something to be concerned about.

Thank you kindly.

Best Answer

This article indicates that it's probably gall bladder bile:

The gall bladder [...] sometimes [...] breaks even when you are cleaning the fish very carefully and close to the skin. If the gall bladder is broken, the greenish yellow biliary fluid pours immediately out into the inside of the fish and starts to absorb into the meat. The meat becomes bitter.

[...] see if the fish is greenish yellow on the inside or not. If it is, then quickly take a piece of paper towel and wipe it off; if it has already started absorbing into the meat, use a filet knife to cut off the part of meat that has turned yellow.

So, it looks like the gall bladder broke and stained some of the meat. If this is the case, cut the yellow bits away, and the rest of the flesh should be fine.

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Why is the inside of a fish yellow?

The colouration of a fish is produced by three colour pigments which are largely contained within cells called Chromatophores. The 3 pigments are Erythrin (Red), Melanin (Black), and Xanthin (Yellow) each of which occurs in different chromatophores.

What is the yellow stuff on fish?

Lymphocystis is a viral disease that causes a yellow or white wart like growth on the fish's body. Lymphocystis subsides naturally only to return, much like a cold-sore in humans. Generally, little harm is done to the fish but the infection is unsightly.

Why is my cooked fish yellow?

The yellow is meat that is turning rancid due to freezer burn, spoilage, or a combination of both. Freezer burn occurs when the meat is exposed to air in the freezer and oxidizes.

Is Cod supposed to be yellow?

Check the color of the cod. Properly cured cod should remain white or ivory in color, even after long-term storage. If the cod has developed a yellow or red hue, it has become oxidized or been affected by microorganisms. Discolored salt cod should be discarded.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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