Histamine Related Concerns for Potential Scombrotoxic Fish Processed with Carbon Monoxide or Filtered Smokes Steve Otwell University of Florida Aquatic Food Products Program

Which do you find more appealing ?

Commercial Opinion is Divided USE OF CARBON MONOXIDE Advantages Disadvantages  Allows freezing for distant market access Provides safety margin over current practices Strong market demand (USA)  Deception, enhance appearance of inferior product Mask potential food safety problems (histamines) Potential toxicity with consumption Commercial Opinion is Divided

Commercial Development - History traditional Hot Smoking...Cold Smoking 1960’s gas blends with MAP & ROP 1970’s CO patents for meat, poultry and fish 1980’s Patents for ‘Filtered’ Smoke 1999 Patent & Petition for ‘Tasteless Smoke’ 2001 Patent for 0.4% CO with Red Meats (Canada)

William R Kowalski October 26, 1999 “Tasteless Smoke”

Commercial Development - Trends Applications ( Tasteless, Clear, Artificial-TS ):  Passive ‘gas in a bag’  Active ‘pressure differentials’  Euthanasia (cultured fish) Products:  Tuna other fish species  Tilapia other cultured species Locations:  IndoPacific South & Central America and recently USA

Sushi Grades vs. Grill Grades

HACCP & Sanitation

Direct Gas Applications

Gas Controls ?

Time & Temperature Controls

C. botulinum issue if refrigerated vs. frozen ROP & Vac Packaging C. botulinum issue if refrigerated vs. frozen

Labeling Mandated vs. Enforced ?

Regulatory Status - USA CO is not approved as a food additive CO is not approved as a color additive CO can not be used to a make product look better than it is … YET… …while FDA did not grant GRAS status for use of ‘tasteless smoke, they did not object to a petition for use with tuna …?

Regulatory Status - USA FDA’s response issued caution with the use of CO and specified necessary labeling… Tuna, Tasteless Smoke (as a preservative) Tuna, Carbon Monoxide (as a preservative) Similar position on red meat petition…?

Regulatory Status - USA NMFS - voluntary inspection services (fee)  List NMFS Approved Operations - basic sanitation - HACCP program - color standards (fading) ?

Regulatory Status - Other Nations USA - primary market Japan - banned if CO concentration greater than 500 ug/kg (?) Canada - not ‘currently’ approved since requested in 1999 EU - Committee objections in 2001, yet limited utilization in meats (Norway)

Commercial Development - Trends CURRENT SITUATIONS:  Less experienced participants  Competition - Patent infringement & Royalties - Fresh vs. Frozen Producers - “Refreshed” Products  Negative Publicity Anticipated  Public Reactions ?

Negative Publicity Tuna's Red Glare? It Could Be Carbon Monoxide Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times APPETIZING? At Oh! Raku, above, tuna, boldly red, has been treated with gas. By JULIA MOSKIN (Oct. 2004) http://www.gassedfish.com/page3.html

Often competitors with refrigerated products Negative Publicity Often competitors with refrigerated products

China treats fish with carbon monoxide ! Negative Publicity China treats fish with carbon monoxide !

Congressional Activity Hearings regarding CO use with red meats Congressman Dingill’s – ‘Food and Drug Import Safety Act” calling for ‘alternative labeling requirements’ for CO exposed meat, poultry and seafood … CO Pack

Histamine Concern Species specific issue - claiming potential scombrotoxic illnesses due to consumption of certain fish that “looked” good or acceptable although it may have suffered thermal abuse prior to processing or during subsequent handling or storage

Histamine Concern Evidence for document illnesses for such ? Offers safety option for USA’s growing dependence on imports from long-distant sources Can be addressed with better controls per species, frozen storage and labeling

Science Science is trailing commercial practice Controls - initial product condition vs. CO applications - product shelf-life after thaw - user safety in applications Monitoring - detection vs. labeling - shelf-life for quality and product safety - time temperature integrators (TTI’s)

Questions ?