shrimp sulfites - question

From: E. Jerry Oliveras, Laboratory Director & President (jerry@anresco.com)
Date: Mon May 19 2003 - 11:50:11 PDT

  • Next message: tilak: "discussion re-sulphites in shrimps"

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Otwell, Steve [mailto:Otwell@mail.ifas.ufl.edu]
    Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 10:46 AM
    To: Jerry
    Subject: RE: SEAFOOD digest 1766

    What is the hardness or sulphur content in water used to handle and process
    the shrimp or ice?

    -----Original Message-----
    From: E. Jerry Oliveras, Laboratory Director & President
    [mailto:jerry@anresco.com]
    Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 1:39 PM
    To: 'Seafood research and extension information exchange'
    Subject: RE: SEAFOOD digest 1766

    Dear Colleagues

    IF one is using the AOAC International Official method Optimized
    Monier-Williams method for sulfites on shrimp - not dried or otherwise
    treated but simply fresh or frozen shrimp - there is no false positives and
    in my experience no even minute [i.e. 1 to 10 ppm sulfite] levels of sulfite
    present. HOWEVER many processors do use sulfites to hide odors of decomp
    and /or prevent darkening of the shrimp color - I do not believe the
    optimized Monier-Williams method would ever give a false positive on plain
    untreated ocean caught wild shrimp. I don't see a mechanism for it from
    natural components.
    I would be very curious as to what method is being used that is detecting
    these "natural" levels of sulfite - I find it HIGHLY dubious. Perhaps if we
    are talking about very trivial levels well below 1 ppm sulfite then I
    suppose anything is possible, however unlikely or absurd.

    Regards

    Ernest Jerry Oliveras, Jr.
    Laboratory Director & President
    ANRESCO, Inc.
    1370 Van Dyke Avenue
    San Francisco, CA 94124
    www.anresco.com
    800-359-0920 x18
    FAX: 415-822-6615
    cell: 415-378-1600
    alternate email: anresco@pacbell.net

    =======================================
    Hello,

    In the EC levels lower than 10 mg/kg of this additive are considered not to
    be present.
    Maybe your results are below this 10 mg/kg?

    Regards

    Jan

    On 18 May 2003 at 1:05, tilak wrote:

    > colleagues,
    > we are doing a study to find out residual sulphite
    > levels in wild caught shrimps.we found that most
    > samples
    > were positive.we have taken care to verify that no sample was
    > treated with any chemicals or additves.
    > we are still continueing our studies.based on our
    > current reports we found that, though in very low
    > levels
    > residual sulphites are present in shrimps naturally.
    > I would like to get your valuable comments and
    > further information on the subject.
    > my good wishes and thanks to all.
    > r.thilak makkiseril
    > q.a.technologist
    > atoz foods,Cochin,India.
    >
    >
    >
    >

    --
    Mr. J.(Jan) A.M. Verhoeven, director of Foodfocus Consultancy & Service
    mailto: info@foodfocus.nl      http://www.foodfocus.nl
    De Volder 32, NL-5283 ZD Boxtel, The Netherlands
    Tel. +31-411-675639  Fax +31-411-671156
    



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