Category Archives: Histamine

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Frozen Tuna Belly

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RASFF – histamine (151.7 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen tuna belly with skin from Vietnam in Portugal

USA – Investigation of Scombrotoxin Fish Poisoning Linked to Yellowfin/Ahi Tuna, Fall 2019

FDA

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 50
Hospitalizations: 1
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: November 24, 2019
States with Cases: DE (6), MA (2), MD (4), MN (2), NJ (2), NY (6), OH (11), PA (6), RI (3), VT (7), WV (1)

December 26, 2019

FDA has determined that recalls of yellowfin tuna supplied by Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD have not effectively removed  potentially harmful products from the market. FDA recommends that importers, suppliers, distributors, restaurants, and retailers who purchased tuna from one of the importers listed should confirm that it was not tuna supplied by Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD with a production date in 2019.  If it was it should be destroyed or discarded. These firms are being named to effectuate the removal of product from the market due to the reporting of additional illnesses linked to product from Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD. The following companies imported tuna from Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD:

  • Mical Seafood Inc. (Davie, FL)
  • Northern Fisheries LTD. (Little Compton, RI)
  • Alfa International Seafood Inc. (Medley, FL)
  • Aquabest Seafood LLC (Miami, FL)
  • Gamma Seafood Corporation (Medley, FL)
  • J. DeLuca Fish Company, Inc. (San Pedro, CA)
  •  Sym-Pac International Inc. (Corona, CA)
  • Worldwide Seafood Products LLC (Perth Amboy, NJ)

Recommendations

Yellowfin tuna from Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD with a production date in 2019 should not be consumed because it may have the potential to cause scombrotoxin fish poisoning. Tuna from this supplier could have been sold thawed or frozen; and could have been sold as ground tuna meat, poke cubes, steaks, or loins; this product could still be within its shelf life.­­ Anyone who received tuna from this supplier should not sell, serve, or consume it and should discard it. If you purchased tuna from one of the importers listed above you should confirm that it was not tuna supplied by Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD with a production date in 2019.

Scombrotoxin fish poisoning occurs when fish is not properly chilled or preserved and begins to spoil, resulting in increased histamine levels. Histamine cannot be destroyed by freezing or cooking.

Importers, Suppliers, and Distributors:

Importers, suppliers, and distributors should not use and should discard or destroy any yellowfin tuna imported from Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD with a production date in 2019.

Restaurants and Retailers:

Restaurants and retailers should contact their suppliers to confirm the source of their yellowfin tuna because not all product was distributed in packaging that identifies Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD. Yellowfin tuna imported from this company with a production date in 2019 should not be used, served, repacked, or sold; and should be discarded.

Consumers:

While restaurants and retailers should have removed yellowfin tuna with a production date in 2019 from the Vietnamese supplier Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD, consumers should ask if the yellowfin tuna being served or sold was imported from the Vietnamese supplier Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD and has a production date in 2019.

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Anchovy Fillets

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RASFF – histamine (1969.8 ±295.5 mg/kg – ppm) in anchovy fillets in olive oil from Albania in Italy

 

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Canned Tuna

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RASFF – histamine (370 mg/kg – ppm) in canned tuna from Turkey in Croatia

USA-Northern Fisheries LTD. Voluntary Expanded Tuna Recall Press Release

FDA

Northern Fisheries LTD of Little Compton, RI, has expanded their voluntary recall of frozen, wild-caught yellowfin Tuna Medallions (product of Vietnam) to include product sold directly to consumers. This recall is due to potentially elevated levels of histamine. Elevated levels of histamines can produce an allergic reaction called scombroid fish poisoning that may result in symptoms that can generally appear within minutes to several hours after eating the affected fish.

The most common symptoms of histamine or scombroid fish poisoning are tingling or burning sensation in the mouth, facial swelling, rash, hives and itchy skin, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; these symptoms usually resolve within several hours without medical intervention. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. If symptoms are severe an individual should seek immediate medical attention for treatment.

These tuna products were sold to customers in: CT, MI, MN, RI and WI.

ALL LOTS WITH PRODUCTION DATE: 06/13/2019 UPC Code: 815838020638

Production date and UPC Code can be found on back of the Tuna King Brand rider card.

BRAND DESCRIPTION PRODUCTION DATE: NORTHERN
LOT #
UPC CODE
Tuna King Tuna Medallions 2-3oz 10x1lb 06/13/2019 0058797 815838020638

Customers who received products with the listed Production Date of: 06/13/2019 should not consume them and should discard them immediately.

Customers with questions or concerns may contact Northern Fisheries LTD by calling (401) 592-0600, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time or email.

northfish@northfishltd.com

RASFF Alerts – Histamine – Canned Mackerel – Frozen Bream

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RASFF – histamine (up to 3873 mg/kg – ppm) in canned mackerel fillets in olive oil from Spain in Italy

RASFF – histamine (398 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen breams from Vietnam in France

USA -Scombroid Poisoning Associated with All Water Seafood in Seattle, WA

Food Poisoning Bulletin

An outbreak of scombroid poisoning is associated with All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar, located in the Loews Hotel 1000, at 1001 1st Avenue in Seattle, Washington. Three people are sick in this outbreak. They ate tuna at that restaurant on November 4, 2019; all patients are from one party. No one has been hospitalized.

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Chilled Chestnut Fish

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RASFF – histamine in chilled chestnut fish (Brama brama) from Spain in Italy

Research – Effect of Vacuum Packaging on Histamine Production in Japanese Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) Stored at Various Temperatures

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

The effect of polyethylene packaging (PEP) in air cushion and vacuum packaging (VP) on histamine related to the quality of Japanese Spanish mackerel (JS mackerel) was studied with samples stored at −20, 4, 15, and 25°C. The aerobic plate count (APC), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), and histamine concentrations of the PEP and VP samples stored at 25°C increased as the storage time continued. The PEP and VP samples stored at temperatures below 15°C showed lower levels of APC, TVBN, and histamine, with VP samples having considerably lower levels of APC, TVBN, and histamine than PEP samples. For the frozen JS mackerel stored at −20°C for 2 months and then thawed and stored at 25°C, the VP treatment delayed the increases of TVBN and histamine longer than did the PEP treatment. Thus, the storage of VP JS mackerel at temperatures below 4°C could prevent quality deterioration and extend shelf life.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Lower APC, TVBN, and histamine were found in VP samples than PEP samples.

  • VP delayed TVBN, and histamine increased at 25°C in thawed JS mackerel.

  • VP JS mackerel below 4°C prevented quality deterioration and extended shelf life.

USA -Mical Seafood Inc. Voluntarily Expands Tuna Recall for Possible Scombroid Poisoning

FDA

Mical Seafood, Inc. of Cooper City, FL, has voluntarily initiated an expanded recall of frozen, wild-caught yellowfin Tuna Loins, Tuna Poke, Tuna Steaks, Tuna Ground Meat, and Tuna Saku (products of Vietnam) due to potentially elevated levels of histamine. Elevated levels of histamines can produce an allergic reaction called scombroid fish poisoning that may result in symptoms that can generally appear within minutes to several hours after eating the affected fish.

The most common symptoms of histamine or scombroid fish poisoning are tingling or burning sensation in the mouth, facial swelling, rash, hives and itchy skin, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; these symptoms usually resolve within several hours without medical intervention. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. If symptoms are severe an individual should seek immediate medical attention for treatment.

These tuna products were wholesaled to customers in: AL, CA, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, RI, TX, UT, VA and WI.

ALL LOTS WITH PRODUCTION DATES: 04/01/2019 TO 05/31/2019

Production dates can be found on the ends of the Mical Brand master cases. These dates are stamped on to the masters as they are produced.

BRAND

DESCRIPTION

PACK

ORIGIN

Mical Seafood Tuna Loins AAA 3-5LB IVP 30 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Loins AAA 5-8LB IVP 30 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Poke AAA 1.5 cm IVP 10 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Poke AAA 2cm IVP 10 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Steaks AAA 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz IVP 10 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Steaks AA 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz IVP 10 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Ground Meat AAA IVP 10 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Saku AAA 8-12oz IVP 10 LB Vietnam
Mical Seafood Tuna Saku AAA 12-16oz IVP 10 LB Vietnam

Customers who received products with the listed Production Dates of: 04/01/2019 to 05/31/2019 should not consume them. Inventory should be quarantined until returned to the supplier or to Mical Seafood, Inc.

Customers with questions or concerns may contact the company’s Recall Team: (Jennifer Gonzalez or Margarita Alzugaray) by calling (954) 935-0133, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time.

Link to Original Recall