Shellfish Safety And Quality

Shellfish are a very popular and nutritious food source worldwide and their consumption has risen dramatically. Because of their unique nature as compared to beef and poultry, shellfish have their own distinct aspects of harvest, processing and handling. Edited by leading authorities in the field, this collection of review papers discusses issues of current interest and outlines steps that can be taken by the shellfish industry to improve shellfish safety and eating quality. Opening chapters provide an overview of the key issues associated with microbial and biotoxin contamination. Parts two and three then address in more detail methods to improve molluscan shellfish and crustacean quality and safety. Chapters focus on detection of algal toxins, monitoring and mitigation of the effects of harmful algal blooms, metals and organic contaminants, biofouling, disease control and selective breeding. Part four reviews legislation, regulation, public confidence in shellfish and risk management. Chapters on post-harvest issues, such as depuration, storage and packaging complete the volume. With its distinguished editors and international team of experts, Shellfish safety and quality is an essential reference for those in the shellfish industry, managers, policymakers and academics in the field. Reviews the latest research on significant hazards such as microbial and biotoxin contamination Discusses effective management of shellfish safety and quality, including emerging methods Examines improved packaging methods

Seafood Safety and Quality continues to be a major public health issue and its importance has escalated to unprecedented levels in recent years. In this book, major seafood borne diseases and key safety issues are reviewed. In addition, emerging microbial agents, fish toxins and other contaminants including heavy metal; allergy, water safety and related topics are discussed. It also addresses the challenges faced by both developed and developing countries to ensure seafood safety in new seafood products and processing technologies, seafood trade, safety of foods derived from biotechnology, microbiological risks, emergence of new and antibioticresistant pathogens, particularly from emerging pathogens, directing research to areas of high-risk, focus intervention and establishment of target risk levels and target diseases or pathogens. The book serves as a comprehensive resource on the seafood borne diseases and a wide variety of responsible etiologic agents, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, seafood toxins, and environmental toxins. It has been written in a simple manner and should promote the efforts of the scientific community to deliver safe seafood for a better health and environment.

Seventy percent of the world's catch of fish and fishery products is consumed as food. Fish and shellfish products represent 15.6 percent of animal protein supply and 5.6 percent of total protein supply on a worldwide basis. Developing countries account for almost 50 percent of global fish exports. Seafood-borne disease or illness outbreaks affect consumers both physically and financially, and create regulatory problems for both importing and exporting countries. Seafood safety as a commodity cannot be purchased in the marketplace and government intervenes to regulate the safety and quality of seafood. Theoretical issues and data limitations create problems in estimating what consumers will pay for seafood safety and quality. The costs and benefits of seafood safety must be considered at all levels, including the fishers, fish farmers, input suppliers to fishing, processing and trade, seafood processors, seafood distributors, consumers and government. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programmes are being implemented on a worldwide basis for seafood. Studies have been completed to estimate the cost of HACCP in various shrimp, fish and shellfish plants in the United States, and are underway for some seafood plants in the United Kingdom, Canada and Africa. Major developments within the last two decades have created a set of complex trading situations for seafood. Current events indicate that seafood safety and quality can be used as non-tariff barriers to free trade. Research priorities necessary to estimate the economic value and impacts of achieving safer seafood are outlined at the consumer, seafood production and processing, trade and government levels. An extensive list of references on the economics of seafood safety and quality is presented.

"Shellfish are a very popular and nutritious food source worldwide and their consumption has risen dramatically. Because of their unique nature as compared to beef and poultry, shellfish have their own distinct aspects of harvest, processing and handling. Edited by leading authorities in the field, this collection of review papers discusses issues of current interest and outlines steps that can be taken by the shellfish industry to improve shellfish safety and eating quality." "With its distinguished editors and international team of experts, Shellfish Safety and Quality will be an essential resource for those in the shellfish industry and also managers, policymakers and academics in the field." --Book Jacket.

Abstract: A companion volume to the General Accounting Office's report on the subject of food safety and quality, this book contains a more detailed description of the food safety and quality activities of the twelve federal agencies discussed in the first volume. The book is arranged by agency and deals with food safety activities that assure that food is safe, sanitary, wholesome, and properly labeled and with food quality activities that establish standards of quality and condition, grading of food products according to standards, and inspecting food products for compilance with the standards.

New research and development in biotechnology, microbiology, computer modeling and advanced analytical techniques has led to improvements in processing and product safety. This new book provides extensive new information on these developments, as well as research directions and challenges for the future.