Re: Tuna fish

From: J. (Jan) A.M. Verhoeven (jan.verhoeven@foodfocus.nl)
Date: Wed Jun 28 2000 - 10:36:21 PDT

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    Dear Chris,

    By forming this stable colour it is just another trick to mislead the
    consumer [about the freshness].

    Permitted gases are in unprocessed food (EU):
    E290 carbon dioxide
    E938 argon
    E939 helium
    E941 nitrogen
    E942 nitrous
    E948 oxygen

    ref. Focus on Food: Additieven - Additives - Additifs - Zusatzstoffe
    Permitted technological additives in food in the European Union in
    the languages Dutch, English, French and German

    Author Ing. J.A.M. Verhoeven, food technologist
    Publisher Foodfocus
    ISBN 90-804836-2-1

    Regards,

    Jan

    On 28 Jun 2000, Chris wrote, at least in part:

    From: "Chris" <Chris@fishhall.co.uk>
    To: "Seafood list" <seafood@ucdavis.edu>
    Subject: Tuna fish
    Date sent: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 09:30:33 +0100
    Send reply to: Chris@fishhall.co.uk

    > Dear Listers,
    > I have started to receive large quantiites of vacuum packed tuna that
    > is bright pink in colour. On investigation i have discovered that it
    > has been flushed with Carbon monoxide. Obviously, this must fix with
    > the haemoglobin creating this pink colour. The reason for my concern
    > is three fold. Firstly, this product does not lose colour as it ages.
    > I am therefore concerned that there could be a build up of histamines
    > in the product and because it still looks bright pink consumers may
    > still use the product. I realise that normal tuna could look fine and
    > contain high levels of histamine, but in aged fish there would be the
    > protection due to discolouration that would alert the consumer.
    > Secondly, there is no labelling to indicate that this product has
    > undergone any form of process. Thirdly, are there any public health
    > implications as a result of this process. I have heard that some
    > countries are banning this product.
    >
    > If anyone knows anything about this product, the process its gone
    > through etc,I would be interested to hear.
    >
    > Chris Leftwich
    > Chief Inspector Billingsgate Market, London
    >

    ____________________________________________
    Ing. J.(Jan) A.M. Verhoeven, director of:
    Foodfocus, consultancy- & service bureau food: technology and quality management
    De Volder 32, NL-5283 ZD BOXTEL, The Netherlands
    tel +31 411 67 56 39 fax +31 411 67 11 56
    E-mail info@foodfocus.nl
    http://www.foodfocus.nl



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