The presence of histamine is a bacterial byproduct from contamination and growth of histamine producing bacteria such as Proteus spp. I would assume there has been a cut made near the nape of the neck or just the fact that it is more prone to temperature abuse would make it the better test area.
Larry Wyatt, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
FoodHorizon Inc
2700 Earl Rudder Freeway
Suite 1301
College Station, TX
979-696-7654
Fax: 413-674-9126
www.foodhorizon.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-seafood@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-seafood@ucdavis.edu]On Behalf Of PDIONPDA@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 12:21 PM
To: JonMcGraw@seafreeze.com
Cc: alain.schalk@cotecna.ch; seafood@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Re: Histamine concern in Ecuador.
John,
I would assume that taking the sample from the nape is simillar to taking samples from Swordfish for Mercury testing. That the nape would contain the highest concentration of histamines or mercury is cases of swordfish.
In posting an answer to the original quaetion I would have to say that safety would be the priority over salability. Isen't that what HACCP is all about?
Paul Dion
Paul Dion Associates, Inc.
Plymouth, MA 02360
USA
In a message dated 11/4/2004 12:28:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, JonMcGraw@seafreeze.com writes:
Subj: RE: Histamine concern in Ecuador.
Date: 11/4/2004 12:28:09 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: JonMcGraw@seafreeze.com
To: alain.schalk@cotecna.ch, seafood@ucdavis.edu
Sent from the Internet
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 Ecuadora question came up about sampling for
histamine in tuna. The firm packs headed and gutted tuna (high quality)
for the USfresh 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?
________________________________________________________________
This communication contains information that is confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) only. The unauthorized reading, disclosure or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient(s), please note that any distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information contained in it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and then destroy any copies of it. The content of this message does not reflect the opinion of the Cotecna Group or any of its affiliates except to the extent that it relates to their official business.
Cotecna Group strives to protect itself from computer viruses. However, as new viruses constantly appear, we do not accept responsibility for the effects of any virus which you may contract from us. We encourage our correspondents to implement anti-virus software, and to keep it up to date.
Please visit our website
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Nov 04 2004 - 12:08:28 PST