Dear Stella, and List
The information you want, and more, will probably be found in: Johnston,
J.N. & Savage, G.P., 1991, Mercury consumption and toxicity with reference
to fish and fishmeal, Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews (Series A), 61,
74-116. It will be of particular interest to you as the address of the
authors is given as the Department of Biochemistry, Lincoln University,
Canterbury, New Zealand. The paper has a good review of the toxicity of
mercury and of the protective action of selenium, but more to the point it
discusses the fate of mercury in the production of fishmeal and the uptake
of mercury into animals from mercury in feeds. There are tables of mercury
contents of fish meals, including meals made in New Zealand. It seems that
most of the mercury in the raw material is retained in the meal. High
mercury contents are found in meals from high trophic level carnivores such
as dogfish, and in fish from polluted waters, such as fish from the North
American great lakes. The median total mercury concentration in a table of
32 fish meals, (not New Zealand), is 0.22 mg mercury/kg. Methylmercury is
about 85% of this. The authors report that high concentrations of mercury
have been found in meals made from orange roughy in New Zealand.
I have no information on mercury content of fish oils. The International
Fishmeal & Fish Oil Organisation, 2 College Yard, Lower Dagnall Street, St.
Albans, Herfordshire, AL3 4PA, United Kingdom, might have information, but
there is none on their Internet site.
Peter Howgate
----- Original Message -----
From: Stella Stacey <Stella.Stacey@indfish.co.nz>
To: <seafood@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 1:08 AM
Subject: Mercury in Fishmeal / Oil
> Dear List
>
> I am currently doing a HACCP Plan for our land based Meal Plant which
produces fish meal, fish oil and fish solubles from a variety of fish
species. I am hoping someone can help me with some information about
mercury.
>
> I know that potentially mercury could pose a food safety hazard for animal
health as mercury is retained in the animals body and does not pass through
their system. Due to the removal of water during processing would average
mercury levels be increased in the fish meal, fish oil and fish solubles?
>
> Tnaks for your help.
>
> Regards
>
> Stella Stacey
>
>
>
> Stella Stacey
> Quality Assurance
> Independent Fisheries Limited
> Phone: +64 3384 3244
> Fax: +64 384 4650
> E-mail: stella.stacey@indfish.co.nz
>
>
>
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