Canned Fish Research Articles

Ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction combined with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection for the determination of nine biogenic amines in canned seafood

This work describes an ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction method combined with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection (UADSPE-RPLC-PDA) for the determination of nine common biogenic amines (BAs) in canned seafood. The pretreatment extraction solvent, ultrasonic treatment duration, and derivatization conditions were optimized. The method was validated on the basis of the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy and successfully applied to analyze four canned fish, two canned shrimp and four canned shellfish samples. LODs of 0.08–0.25 mg kg−1 were achieved, and the correlation coefficient of determination was 0.9994–0.9997. The method had high precision and accuracy, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) and recoveries of 0.44 to 6.83% and 72.57 to 99.74%, respectively, suggesting the effectiveness of ultrasound-assisted extraction at increasing the solubility of the target analytes in the solvent system and the feasibility of UADSPE-RPLC-PDA for determining trace BAs in canned seafood.

Investigation into the contents of nutrients, Nε-carboxymethyllysine and Nε-carboxyethyllysine in various commercially canned fishes to find the correlation between them

Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) are typical advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) found in foods, which have been linked to various health risks. Little is known about the formation of AGEs in different kinds of canned fishes and their connection with nutriment. In this study, the levels of general nutrients and AGEs in commercially canned fish products were investigated to find the correlation between the two . High biological variation in CML and CEL levels was found between individual canned fish products. Particularly for the smallest amount of AGEs in canned mackerel, the CML is 0.53 mg/kg; the CEL is 18.8 mg/kg. On the contrary, canned dace has the highest content of AGEs, with a CML of 69.2 mg/kg; and a CEL of 244 mg/kg. A positive correlation of 0.61 was observed between contents of polyunsaturated fatty acid 9C12C-C18:2 and CML. Protein contents also had a positive correlation with levels of CML (0.46) and CEL (0.73) .Levels of methionine (Met, -0.53) and lysine (Lys, -0.50) were negatively correlated with levels of CML . The results of this study indicated the possibility of predicting and controlling canned fish quality and AGEs formation according to their nutrient conditions.

Concentration of Pb, Sn and Fe Metals on Milk Products and Canned Fish in Gorontalo City

This study aims to determine the levels of Lead (Pb), Tin (Sn) and Iron (Fe) in milk products and canned fish at the markets around Gorontalo City. A total of 16 samples of infant formula and canned fish were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (method. The calibration curves showed regression value r = 0.9997 (Sn), r = 0.9965 (Fe), r = 0.9995 (Pb). LOD and LOQ value is Pb=0.09 and 0.11, Sn=1.81 and 2.23, Fe=0.07 and 0.13. The result showed that in infant formula concentration of Pb and Sn were lower than LOD value ppm and concentrations of Fe were obtained 6.91 ppm, 8.09 ppm, 11.07 ppm, 12.27 ppm, 6.79 ppm, 10.27 ppm, 5.96 ppm, 1.57 ppm. In canned fish concentration of Pb and Sn were lower than LOD value and Fe metal of 1-8 samples obtained 12.99 ppm, 8.24 ppm, 11.20 ppm, 15.67 ppm, 7.11 ppm, 11.56 ppm, 19.24 ppm, and 14.99 ppm. Dissensus that the concentration of Fe> Sn> Pb metal in infant formula and canned milk samples. Health Risk Analysis Index (HRI) value in infant formula and canned fish skin samples were <1, so can be assumed these products safe to consume infant formula.

The association between animal flesh foods consumption and semen parameters among infertile Iranian men: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated the association between dietary patterns and semen quality indicators, but research on the possible association between animal flesh foods consumption and semen quality is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the association between animal flesh foods consumption with semen quality.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 400 newly-identified (< 6 months) infertile men, as diagnosed by an andrologist, were recruited into the study. Dietary intake was assessed by using a semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. The total meat consumption was defined as the sum of red meat, poultry, fresh fish, canned fish, processed meats, and organ meats in the diet. A linear mixed model was used to assess the relationship between meat consumption and semen quality indicators of participants.ResultsConsumption of canned fish was inversely related to sperm immotility. Compared with the men in the lowest quartile of canned fish intake, those in the highest quartile had a lower sperm immotility [lowest quartile: 52.5%; (95% CI: 47–57) vs 47.4%; (95% CI: 43–51) P-trend = 0.026]. Similarly, a trend toward an inverse significant association between fresh fish intake and sperm immotility was observed (P-trend = 0.074). In contrast, fresh and canned fish intake was unrelated to other outcomes of sperm quality (P-trend > 0.05). No association was found between consumption of processed red meat, red meat, poultry, and organ meat, and semen quality indicators (P-trend > 0.05).ConclusionsWe found that consumption of canned fish is associated with a lower percentage of immotile sperm, whilst a high consumption of fresh fish increased the percentage of immotile sperm in Iranian infertile men. Further studies are recommended in this regard.

Development and Application of Novel Chemiluminescence Immunoassays for Highly Sensitive Detection of Anisakis simplex Proteins in Thermally Processed Seafood.

The third-stage larvae (L3) of Anisakis simplex are the most important source of hidden allergens in seafood products. However, there exist no commercial methods for detecting Anisakis proteins in food. Furthermore, only a few methods have been validated for the detection of A. simplex in thermally processed food. The aims of our study are (i) the development and validation of high-sensitivity chemiluminescent (CL) immunoassays for the detection of A. simplex proteins in processed seafood, (ii) and A. simplex antigen detection in common seafood products from Polish markets. We developed and validated CL sandwich ELISA (S-ELISA) and CL competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) methods for A. simplex proteins detection in food, with respective detection limits of 0.5 and 5 ng/mL. The usefulness of the assays for detecting A. simplex proteins in highly processed food was evaluated by examination of autoclaved canned fish spiked with A. simplex larvae (1–8 larvae/200 g). Commercial real-time PCR was unable to detect A. simplex in autoclaved samples at all levels of enrichment with Anisakis larvae. CL-S-ELISA was used to test various types of seafood products from Polish markets. Among all tested products (n = 259), 28% were positive. A. simplex antigens were found mostly (n = 39) in smoked fish products: mackerel, herring, cod, and hake. Other positive samples were found in marinated herrings, canned cod livers, canned mackerels, and surimi sticks. In tuna, Atlantic argentine, anchovy, sardine, sprat, and squid products, A. simplex antigens were not detected. This study provides novel effective tools for the detection of A. simplex proteins in processed food and highlights the potential allergic hazards for Anisakis-sensitized Polish consumers of seafood.

Effect of Prior Chilling Period and Alga-Extract Packaging on the Quality of a Canned Underutilised Fish Species.

The effect of a prior chilling period and an alga extract packaging on the quality of a canned underutilised mackerel species (Scomber colias) was investigated. For this different chilling times (0, 4 and 9 days) were taken into account and three concentrations of aqueous extracts of the macroalga Fucus spiralis were tested in a brine-packaging medium. Chemical changes related to quality were analysed after 3 months of canned storage. A substantial increase (p < 0.05) in free fatty acid content was observed in canned fish by increasing the chilling time; however, alga extract presence in the packaging medium led to decreased mean values. Concerning lipid oxidation development, an increased chilling time led to higher values (p < 0.05) of thiobarbituric acid index and fluorescent compounds formation; remarkably, an increased presence of alga extract led to a higher (p < 0.05) peroxide retention and lower (p < 0.05) fluorescent compounds content. Average colour L* and a* values showed a decrease and an increase, respectively, with chilling time; however, such changes were minimised with the alga extract content in the packaging system. Trimethylamine content revealed a marked increase as a result of the sterilisation step, but no influence (p > 0.05) of the chilling time or the alga-packaging medium could be implied.

Application of material requirement planning method in raw materials planning on sardine product in PT. Blambangan Foodpackers Indonesia

PT. Blambangan Foodpackers Indonesia is one of the big companies in the Banyuwangi area and is a company engaged in the manufacturing industry that is a company processing canned fish. The number of constraints in planning raw material inventories that cause the occurrence of excess or accumulation of raw materials and shortages causes freezing of operational costs. The implementation of the material requirement planning (MRP) system is expected to be able to find out the optimal amount of raw material inventory and the right ordering time to meet production needs with optimal costs. This study was aimed to determine the exact lot size technique based on inventory costs and to compare the MRP method with inventory in the company based on total inventory costs. The research method used was the determination of the lot size and MRP system. The results showed that the lot for lot method for ASCK cans, ASCB cans, ASTB cans, and pasta, while EOQ for ASTK cans, ASEPK cans, sugar, salt and flour. The MRP system in each raw material can be used as an indicator to minimize total inventory costs when compared to the company's method during the previous period.

Impact of prior high-pressure processing on lipid damage and volatile amines formation in mackerel muscle subjected to frozen storage and canning

This research describes a first approach to analyse the effects of using high-pressure processing (HPP) as a pre-treatment before frozen storage and subsequent canning of fish. For it, Atlantic Chub mackerel (Scombercolias) was subjected to HPP (200, 400 and 600 MPa for 2 min) followed by freezing (−30 °C for 48 h), frozen storage (−18 °C for 0, 3, 6, 10 or 15 months), canning and canned storage (3 months at 20 °C). Lipid damage development (hydrolysis and oxidation) and volatile amines formation (total and trimethylamine) were determined in canned mackerel. As a result, a marked inhibitory effect (p < 0.05) on free fatty acids content was observed in canned mackerel previously subjected to different frozen storage times. This effect increased with pressure applied. Furthermore, higher average polyene values were obtained in most canned fish previously subjected to any high-pressure treatment when compared with Control canned fish. No effect (p > 0.05) on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and trimethylamine values was noticed related to HPP. However, increasing (p < 0.05) peroxides and fluorescent compounds contents were obtained when applying the two highest pressure levels.

Yetişkinlerde Konserve Balık Tüketimine Bağlı Ağır Metal Maruziyet Riskinin Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Ankara piyasasında satılan 7 farklı türe ait (ton, sardalya, somon, uskumru, hamsi, alabalık ve levrek) 66 adet konserve balığın ağır metal içeriklerini analiz etmek ve yetişkin bireylerin ağır metal maruziyet düzeylerinin saptanarak risk değerlendirmesini yapmak amacıyla planlanmış ve yürütülmüştür.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntem: Tüm konserve balık örneklerinin ICP-MS (indüktif eşleşmiş plazma-kütle spektrometresi) cihazında kurşun (Pb), kadmiyum (Cd), alüminyum (Al) ve arsenik (As) analizleri yapılmıştır. Yetişkin bireylerin haftada 2 porsiyon konserve balık tüketmeleri halinde maruz kalacakları Pb, Cd, Al ve As düzeyleri hesaplanmıştır.&#x0D; Bulgular: Analiz edilen balıklar içerisinde Pb ve Cd açısından en yüksek içeriğe sahip olan tür ton balığıdır (sırasıyla; 0.12±0.16 mg/kg, 6.41±4.98 mcg/kg). Alüminyum açısından en yüksek konsantrasyona sahip konserve hamsi iken (1.91±0.15 mg/kg), As açısından en yüksek düzey sardalya da (2.16±1.13 mg/kg) belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre yetişkin bireylerde Pb, Cd, Al ve As maruziyetinin Besin ve İlaç İdaresi (FDA) ve Gıda Katkı Maddeleri Ortak FAO/WHO Uzmanlar Komitesi (JECFA) tarafından belirlenen üst limitlerin altında olduğu saptanmıştır.&#x0D; Sonuç ve Öneriler: Günümüzde konserve balıklar ulaşılabilirlik ve tüketim kolaylığı nedeniyle tercih edilmektedir. Ancak taze veya konserve balıklar diyetimizde ağır metaller yönünden de potansiyel bir risk olarak gösterilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, piyasada satılan farklı içeriğe sahip konserve balıkların farklı düzeylerde ağır metal içeriğine sahip olduğu ve yetişkinlerin farklı düzeylerde ağır metale maruz kaldığı saptanmıştır. Piyasada satışa sunulan farklı türde konserve balıkların günlük tüketim miktarlarına göre farklı yaş gruplarındaki bireylerin ağır metal maruziyet riskini değerlendiren çalışma sayısı oldukça azdır. Bu konuda daha kapsamlı çalışmaların yapılması gerekmektedir.

Urinary Dimethylamine (DMA) and Its Precursor Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) in Clinical Medicine, in the Context of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Beyond.

Asymmetric protein-arginine dimethylation is a major post-translational modification (PTM) catalyzed by protein-arginine methyltransferase (PRMT). Regular proteolysis releases asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Of the daily produced ADMA, about 10% are excreted unchanged in the urine. The remaining 90% are hydrolyzed by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) to L-citrulline and dimethylamine (DMA), which is readily excreted in the urine. The PRMT/DDAH pathway is almost the exclusive origin of urinary ADMA and the major source of urinary DMA. Dietary fish and seafood represent additional abundant sources of urinary DMA. The present article provides an overview of urinary ADMA and DMA reported thus far in epidemiological, clinical and pharmacological studies, in connection with the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway and beyond, in neonates, children and adolescents, young and elderly subjects, males and females. Discussed diseases mainly include those relating to the renal and cardiovascular systems such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Becker muscular disease, Duchenne muscular disease (DMD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and type I diabetes. Under standardized conditions involving the abstinence of DMA-rich fresh and canned fish and seafood, urinary DMA and ADMA are useful as measures of whole-body asymmetric arginine-dimethylation in health and disease. The creatinine-corrected excretion rates of DMA range from 10 to 80 µmol/mmol in adults and up to 400 µmol/mmol in children and adolescents. The creatinine-corrected excretion rates of ADMA are on average 10 times lower. In general, diseases are associated with higher urinary DMA and ADMA excretion rates, and pharmacological treatment, such as with steroids and creatine (in DMD), decreases their excretion rates, which may be accompanied by a decreased urinary excretion of nitrate, the major metabolite of NO. In healthy subjects and in rheumatoid arthritis patients, the urinary excretion rate of DMA correlates positively with the excretion rate of dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), the major urinary catecholamines metabolite, suggesting a potential interplay in the PRMT/DDAH/NO pathway.

Fish Consumption and knowledge of Chemical Pollutants among a Sample of Women Who Recently Gave Birth in Tripoli, Libya

Fish and fish products are important sources of nutritional elements, especially iodine and unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3). These are essential for pregnant women and their embryos during a pregnancy period. However, women and their embryos may be exposed to chemical pollutants when they consume fish. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the consumption pattern of fish during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-pregnancy periods, and explore the awareness on the chemical pollutants in fish among the women who recently gave birth in Tripoli city, Libya. This study targeted 370 women randomly in Tripoli city and collected data through a face to face questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: characteristics of new mothers; consumption of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and canned fish; and knowledge on the importance and risks of eating fish and fish products. The results showed that eating fish, crustaceans, and mollusks once a month was the highest proportion in the three periods with a percentage of 38, 38 and 41%, respectively. Sardine, sea bream and mackerel were the most fish common consumed by new mothers during the three periods. More than half of the mothers did not change the pattern of their consumption of fish, crustaceans and/or mollusks during pregnancy as compared to the pre-pregnancy period and after the birth of their children as compared to the pregnancy period. The canned tuna was the most canned fish consumed by respondents (93%). More than half of mothers realized that eating fish is important for health in general and for pregnant women with a percentage of 58 and 59%, respectively. The results of this study showed that there was a great need to raise the awareness of new mothers about chemical pollutants in fish. Furthermore, effective programs should be adopted by the competent authorities to educate mothers about what types and amounts of fish they should consume during pregnancy and the types that should be avoided.

Monitoring the Levels of Biogenic Amines in Canned Fish Products Marketed in Ghana

An ion-pair HPLC method with postcolumn o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatization and fluorescence detection was validated for quantitative determination of five biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, cadaverine, putrescine, and agmatine) in canned fish products (mackerel, sardine, and tuna) marketed in Ghana. The validated method exhibited excellent selectivity and good linearity (R2 &gt; 0.9990) for all the amines. The limits of detection and quantification for studied biogenic amines were in the range of 0.32–0.78 mg·kg−1 and 1.10–2.57 mg·kg−1, respectively. Also, a satisfactory recovery was obtained for all the amines (82.1–101.4%), and the relative standard deviations were lower than 9.3% under repeatability conditions for the studied amines. Subsequently, the method was applied to the analysis of biogenic amines in canned fish products to estimate the safety of Ghanaian consumers. The maximum levels of histamine, tyramine, cadaverine, putrescine, and agmatine detected in the analysed canned fish products were 64.05 mg·kg−1, 27.44 mg·kg−1, 27.23 mg·kg−1, 18.74 mg·kg−1, and 52.72 mg·kg−1, respectively. Thus, the levels of biogenic amines detected in the canned fish products were lower than the acceptable levels and, therefore, can be considered relatively safe for human consumption.

A Foodborne botulism Occurrence in Mashhad: Clostridium botulinum in local cheese

Objective: Clostridium botulinum is one of the most common life-threatening agents all around the world which produces botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). It may lead to morbidities such as paralysis and mortality after consuming canned tuna fish, local dairy products and home-preserved or commercial food. People use a good deal of local dairy products such as cheese and it exposes a variety of population to botulinum intoxication.Case Presentation: A 48-year-old woman referred to the ED complaining about acute dysphonia accompanied with symmetric hypotonia and bilateral ptosis. She had a history of consuming local dairy cheese.Conclusion: It is indispensable for the physician to identify major features of foodborne botulism in order to differentiate it from other illnesses and early initiation of intensive care for intoxicated patients. To prevent the incidence of dairy product derived botulinum, it is firmly suggested to have quality control on local dairy products

Optimal production scheduling of food process industries

The production scheduling problem of a real-life food industry is addressed in this work. An efficient MILP-based solution strategy is developed to optimize weekly schedules for a Spanish canned fish production plant. The multi-stage, multi-product facility under study consists of both continuous and batch operations resulting in an extremely complex scheduling problem. In order to reduce its computational complexity, an aggregated approach is cleverly proposed, in which the continuous processes are explicitly modeled, while valid feasibility constraints are introduced for the batch stage. Based on this approach, two MILP models are developed, using a mixed discrete-continuous time representation. All technical, operating and design constraints of the facility are considered, while salient characteristics of the canned-food industry, such as assurance of the end products’ microbiological integrity, are aptly modeled. Both the minimization of makespan and changeovers is studied. In order to meet the computational limits imposed by the industry, an order-based decomposition algorithm is further investigated. The method is successfully applied to real-life case studies, generating near-optimal solutions in short CPU times. The suggested solution strategy can be easily extended to consider other real-life scheduling problems from the process industries sector that share similar production characteristics.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) in Foods commonly consumed in Southwest Nigeria and its Human Health Risk

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical ubiquitous in the environment and listed as an endocrine disruptor. It has the tendency of migrating into food stored in materials containing it. This study, therefore, determines the concentrations of BPA in foods commonly consumed in Southwest Nigeria by the adult population and also estimates the risk associated with human exposure. Eight different food categories were selected for this study. Standard QuEChERS protocol was used for sample extraction and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vegetable oil had the highest BPA concentration (28.4 ng/g). This was followed by aquatic canned fish (26.3 ng/g), canned beef (21.3 ng/g) and crayfish (17.5 ng/g). These concentrations were below the 600 ng/g limit of the European Commission for BPA in foods. Bisphenol-A was not detected in raw beef, chicken, cheese, apple, tomatoes, beans and rice; and chicken eggs. The adult population had an average dietary intake of 30.4 ng/kg bw/day. There is no likely occurrence of harmful health effects of BPA in the selected foods with respect to the current concentrations found therein. However, routine monitoring is recommended to prevent human exposure to BPA.

Política Económica e modernização industrial no Estado Novo

&#x0D; Neste artigo estudamos a aplicação do Condicionamento Industrial do Estado Novo à indústria de conservas de peixe, uma das principais exportações portuguesas. Retomando a problemática da regulação no desenvolvimento industrial do país, procuramos explicar o impacto do mecanismo burocrático durante o segundo pós-guerra, medindo os seus resultados quantitativos, mas tentando sobretudo compreender as suas relações com outras políticas económicas e sociais do regime. Através de novas fontes documentais, propomos analisar o processo decisório do Condicionamento Industrial, tradicionalmente centrado na administração do Estado, a partir da actuação das empresas e dos organismos corporativos.

Quality Characteristics and Functional and Antioxidant Capacities of Algae-Fortified Fish Burgers Prepared from Common Barbel (Barbus barbus).

Introduction Algae have been used as natural ingredients to produce new canned fish burgers prepared from minced flesh of common barbel. In this research, the impact of the addition of Cystoseira compressa and Jania adhaerens at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 1.5% w/v on the texture and sensory characteristics of fish burgers were investigated. Results Compared to controls, fish burgers containing 1% algae had better texture and sensory properties (P < 0.05). Also, these burger formulations had higher water and oil holding capacities as well as swelling ability, due to the important polysaccharides and dietary fibers contents of algae. In addition, algae-supplemented burgers were characterized as having low L⁎, a⁎, and b⁎ values, which made the color appear to be paler. Thanks to their high richness in pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) and polysaccharides, algae considerably enhance the antioxidant activities of the new ready-to-eat fish burgers. So, Cystoseira compressa and Jania adhaerens could be used as nutritious additives to produce new fish-based products.

Exposure Assessment of Total Mercury: A Probabilistic-Approach Study Based on Consumption of Canned Fish

Introduction: Exposure to mercury (Hg) by consumption of fish is a recent health concern. So, it is important to evaluate the health risks related to canned fish consumption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential health risk based on Hg concentration in people who consumed canned fish with a probabilistic approach in Isfahan City, the central province in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 popular brands of canned fish prepared in Iran and other countries were selected and analyzed for Hg concentration with atomic absorption spectrometer. The results were compared with the European Communities and JECFA guidelines. Then, a probabilistic method with Monte-Carlo simulation was used to assessment the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) and the Hazard Quotient (HQ) for consumers in Isfahan City. Results: The average Hg concentrations in samples were 0.251 ± 0.204 and 0.189 ± 0.152 µg/g in canned fish of Iran and other countries, respectively. The Hg level was found below the guideline limit for European Communities and JECFA. The estimated PTDI was 0.037 µg person/day and HQ was 0.074. Conclusion: The results indicated that canned fish available in the markets of Iran did not have a health risk for adults. Moreover, canned fish consumption has a possible influence on the risk estimate and its risk should be assessed for vulnerable groups.

Safety assessment of some imported canned fish using chemical, microbiological and sensory methods

During transportation, storage and handling of canned fish, many changes might occur resulting in the production of toxic substances that could cause human poisoning. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to chemically, microbiologically and organoleptically evaluate some imported canned fish in local markets to make sure that they achieved the concept of safe food. The results revealed that canned fish samples contained high percentage of crude protein that ranged from 57.48% to 76.02% (DW). The total volatile nitrogen values (TVN) ranged from 7.01 to 18.04 mgN/100 g sample. Polyunsaturated fatty acids percentage ranged between 22.6% and 69.4%, of which linoleic acid (C18:2 ”omega-6″) recorded 34.4% in canned sardine and 66.3% in canned tuna, while (C22:2) was 10.8% in canned mackerel. The microbial examinations indicated that canned tuna and canned sardine samples had the least value of total viable bacterial count, but canned mackerel had the highest count ranging from 2.5 ± 0.01 × 102 to 4.6 ± 0.21 × 103 CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus, coliform group, Clostridium sp. and anaerobic spore-forming bacteria producing H2S were not detected in all samples. The results showed that all studied canned fish samples were compatible with the Egyptian and Gulf specifications and were considered safe for human consumption.

Mercury and selenium in the Brazilian subtropical marine products: Food composition and safety

In this study we estimate the content of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) in 32 fish and 6 shellfish species that represent the most intensively caught, consumed, and exported seafood species from the Brazilian subtropics. The mean Hg contents in three species of large carnivorous fish (i.e., shortfin mako; 502 μg kg−1; dusky grouper, 789 μg kg−1; school shark, 806 μgkg−1) were above the allowable limit (500 μg kg−1) for human consumption. However, the content of Se in the fin fish, as well as the shellfish, were substantially below (147 μgkg−1 ≤ Se ≤ 688 μgkg−1) what is considered safe for human consumption (i.e., 2000 μgkg−1). The only exception was in the deep-sea red crab sample, which exhibited an elevated Se content of ca. 5400 μg kg−1. Nevertheless, all studied species had mean Se:Hg molar ratios greater than 1:1, suggesting that human consumption of the studied sea food species are relatively safe with respect to their Hg content. The highest Se:Hg molar ratios were found in the shellfish species investigated, as well as the most sought after commercial fish. The calculated Se health benefit value index (Se-HBV, HBVSe), which is a qualitative measure of the ability of Se to mute the toxic effects of Hg, exhibited high positive values in most of the studied fish species, suggesting human consumption of these species was safe. An exception was sardine, an important species for producing canned fish, which exhibited the lowest HBV.