Re: Histamine in fish meal

From: Stella Stacey (Stella.Stacey@indfish.co.nz)
Date: Mon Oct 02 2006 - 16:11:30 PDT

  • Next message: Anthony Bimbo: "Fw: Histamine in fish meal"

    Hi Byron

    I looked into this when completing HACCP on our fishmeal processing
    plant.
    Our customers require histamine testing for our "dark" meal but not our
    "light" meal.

    Histamine is used as a marker for other biogenic amines and for fish
    meal quality. From the information that I have gleaned levels of about
    800 - 1000 ppm generally indicate poor quality fish meal.

    The intended consumer of the fish meal is also an important factor in
    regard to histamine (and other biogenic amines).
    For example, high levels of biogenic amines are associated with reduced
    growth and pathological changes in marine carnivorous fish and shrimp.
    The main concerns are regarding poultry where biogenic amines,
    especially histamine cause
     - enlargement of the proventriculus
     - general erosion of the gizzard lining
     - general destruction of the intestinal lining
     - excessive mucus secretion

    Biogenic amines are a byproduct of microbial decomposition (usually
    prior to heat processing feed ingredients), gizzerosine results from
    over-processing fish meal.
    Gizzerosine is a toxic amino acid formed during heat processing by the
    combination of the amino acids histamine and lysine. The resulting
    molecule resembles histamine and causes over production of hydrochloric
    acid by the proventriculus (in poultry). Severe gizzard erosion is
    common when over-processed fishmeal is fed to broilers.

    I hope this helps.

    Cheers
    Stella

    Stella Stacey
    Quality Manager
    Independent Fisheries Limited
    Phone: +64 3384 2344
    Fax: +64 3384 4650
    E-mail: stella.stacey@indfish.co.nz

    >>> Byron Gurdián García <bgurdian@protecnet.go.cr> 3/10/2006 11:36
    a.m. >>>
    Hi Seafood community:

    Does anybody know about acceptable histamine concentration in fish
    meal?

    Fish meal is intended to be used as animal food. Mammals are sensible
    to histamine, most of the time fish does not have histamine, improper
    handling is the main problem, but now it appear to be a point of concern
    to animal feed processors.

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Byron

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