Elemental content and safety evaluation of wild-harvested Australian abalone (Haliotis spp.) viscera: Addressing safety concerns in food waste upcycling

Abstract

Abalone viscera has been shown to be a valuable human nutraceutical, yet the food safety considerations of consuming whole abalone viscera have been largely overlooked. Hence, this research was conducted to investigate and evaluate elemental compositions and safety of it. The elemental data was compared to international food safety regulations and evaluated using the USEPA hazard index (HI) equation and HI-derived estimated upper limit (EDUL) equation, which EDUL allows comparison of novel foods with a large variety of similar existing products. To further demonstrate that food safety of upcycled food could be improved with simple processing, a risk mitigation trial was conducted. The results indicated that whilst heavy metal levels (mg/kg) and HI were shown to reach unsatisfactory food safety levels, this exceedance was likely caused by overestimation in daily consumption. The EDUL results supported this explanation and demonstrated that abalone viscera posed no safety concern even when eaten in quantities similar to common shellfish. The risk mitigation trial was as well successful, demonstrating up to 32 % reduction in HI. The findings identified options to evaluate and improve safety of novel food and can be a case study to evaluate, understand and overcome food safety challenges in other upcycled food.