Open AccessA case study on the development of representative sampling procedure to determine mercury levels in a lot of tuna caught by static trap
Author(s) -
Pierluigi Piras,
Antonio Assaretti,
Gianuario Fiori,
Andrea Sanna,
Giannina Chessa
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
italian journal of food safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.359
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2239-7132
DOI - 10.4081/ijfs.2019.8165
Subject(s) - tuna , trap (plumbing) , mercury (programming language) , sampling (signal processing) , fishery , environmental science , biology , computer science , telecommunications , fish <actinopterygii> , environmental engineering , detector , programming language
Mercury contamination in fish products, and in large pelagic predatory fish in particular, is a remarkable food safety issue that affects fish industry. A lot made up by Bluefin tunas caught at Porto Paglia − in the south-western coast of Sardinia − was subject to several sessions of fish meat official sampling, as disputable results of mercury level determination suggested a potential non-compliance to maximum allowable limit. Local competent Veterinary Service reviewed the sampling procedure introducing more rigorous details including the identification of a specific muscular portion as sampling site, after having taken into account both statutory provisions laid down by Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 and available scientific evidence on variables affecting uneven distribution of mercury across tuna carcasses. This case-study aims to provide an initial contribution in order to ensure an appropriate and representative field sampling protocol of tuna lots that are to be analysed for mercury content.