RE: Histamine concern in Ecuador.

From: Jon McGraw (JonMcGraw@seafreeze.com)
Date: Thu Nov 04 2004 - 08:56:30 PST

  • Next message: PDIONPDA@aol.com: "Re: Histamine concern in Ecuador."

    Hello,
     
    I have yet to see an answer to the original question posed. I don't disagree
    with what Alain has said but I am curious as to the directive to test neck
    line vs tail. Requiring a seller to disfigure his fish in such a way as to
    reduce his market is a hardship. Is it necessary.? Is it being required
    universally? Does it provide a more definitive result?
     
    Regards
     
    Jon McGraw
    Seafreeze
    Seattle, Wa

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Schalk Alain [mailto:alain.schalk@cotecna.ch]
    Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 7:31 AM
    To: seafood@ucdavis.edu
    Subject: Histamine concern in Ecuador.

    To anonymous subscriber,

     

    It is clear that FDA did not have confidence in the final product as same
    probably reached the packing plant already with a low quality label….and the
    producer could not probably demonstrate any kind of pre-quality concern
    before final check at packing…so FDA was obliged to impose 100% sampling
    basis….According to my experience the sampling plan reduces when the
    confidence increases in the lot you have to inspect. And the only way to do
    that is to have the industry to start considering global safety programs
    considering critical points definition on board vessel or at farm side, at
    landing/transfer and processing points.…The plant having suffered the
    penalty from FDA admits that they have lost the value of the shipment as not
    being sellable anymore….so now whom would they turn to for getting
    help/advices for future shipments ?? Who can answer this question today ??
    Only a few consultants are able to help them with the full package
    handling/temperature and HACCP monitoring ? I am afraid we have to urgently
    address the issue of providing training to the industry on the subject if we
    want seafood and fish to be on the menu for the years to come…

     

    Alain Schalk

    Cotecna Inspection SA

     

     
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------

     Seafood HACCP Mailing List

    A subscriber to this list asked me to post this message. If you have
    information, would you either share via the listserv for open discussion
    or with me privately (pdtom@ucdavis.edu)?

    "During my visit to Ecuador a question came up about sampling for
    histamine in tuna. The firm packs headed and gutted tuna (high quality)
    for the US fresh market - Miami Seafood market and NY Fulton Seafood
    market. They air freight everyday. After an FDA inspection they were
    told to sample each fish for histamine by removing at least 50 grams of
    flesh near the neck line fins (instead of the previous tail location).

    This type of sampling will destroy the esthetic quality of the fish and
    make it unsaleable in this particular market. How is this matter is being
    handled by other sellers of this product?

     

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