Histamine is a naturally occurring substance that is derived from the decarboxylation of amino acids. It can be present in certain foods containing free histidine. Certain bacteria produce the enzyme histidine decarboxylase during growth. This enzyme reacts with free histidine, a naturally occurring amino acid that is present in higher proportions in certain species of fish, particularly those of the Scombridae and Scomberesocidae families. The result is the formation of histamine. Histamine poisoning is often referred to as scombrotoxin fish poisoning (SFP) because of the frequent association of the illness with the consumption of spoiled scombroid fish. SFP is most commonly linked to fish that have a high level of free histidine. Histamine formation is then dependent on the time/temperature conditions under which the fish is handled. Even in fish with high levels of free histidine, the available data suggest that high histamine levels are as a result of gross time/temperature abuse during handling and storage. Compared with scombroid fish, which have free histidine levels ranging from approximately 5 000 mg/kg to 20 000 mg/kg, most species in the Salmonidae family have less than 1000 mg/kg histidine. Nevertheless some concerns have been raised about the potential risk of SPF or SPF-like illness linked to Salmonidae, considering these fish are globally traded with 80% of global production entering international trade. This report describes the methods and findings of a comprehensive literature review undertaken to assess the scientific evidence regarding the risk of histamine development in fish of the family Salmonidae and the potential impact for human health.

This technical paper compiles the state of knowledge on seafood safety and quality with the aim to provide a succinct yet comprehensive resource book to seafood quality and safety managers, including topics on emerging issues such as new pathogens, the impact of climate change on seafood safety, and the changing regulatory framework. After introductory chapters about world fish production, trade, consumption and nutrition, and about the developments in safety and quality systems, the technical paper devotes a chapter to a detailed review of the hazards causing public health concerns in fish and fish products, covering biological (pathogenic bacteria, histamine, viruses, parasites and biotoxins), chemical (veterinary drugs, industrial organic contaminants, environmental inorganic contaminants and allergens) and physical hazards. This is followed by a chapter on seafood spoilage and quality issues, while a further chapter covers the likely impact of climate change on seafood safety. The latter chapter focuses on impacts on microbiological safety and on harmful algal blooms. A further chapter provides a detailed coverage of the implementation and certification of seafood safety systems covering risk mitigation and management tools, with a detailed description of the requirements for the implementation of: good hygiene practices and good manufacturing practices; the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system; and the monitoring programmes to control biotoxins, pathogenic bacteria and viruses and chemical pollutants. It concludes with a section on private labelling and certification schemes. The subsequent chapter details the international framework, covering the World Trade Organization, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and the World Organisation for Animal Health. It then presents the regulatory frameworks governing seafood trade in the European Union (Member Organization), the United States of America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. --Page v.

Literaturverz. S. 122 - 126

Histamine is an important mediator of allergic diseases, but knowledge of histamine as a cause of numerous non-allergic symptoms and signs is limited. This book offers wide-ranging coverage of histamine intolerance. There is extensive background discussion of the origin of histamine, its content in food and alcoholic beverages and intolerance to red wine. Diagnosis of histamine intolerance is explained and the various symptoms of histamine intolerance are clearly described. Subsequent chapters cover the relation of histamine to a wide variety of conditions, including drug intolerance, atopic dermatitis, seasickness and osteoporosis. This book will prove of value in clinical practice by facilitating differential diagnosis, which is by no means straightforward given the multiplicity of symptoms of histamine intolerance and by assisting in the selection of therapeutic measures.

This paper provides an extensive review of different aspects of five shellfish-poisoning syndromes (paralytic, diarrhoeic, amnesic, neurologic and azapiracid), as well as one fish-poisoning syndrome (ciguatera fish poisoning), and discusses in detail the causative toxins produced by marine organisms, chemical structures and analytical methods of the toxins, habitat and occurrence of the toxin-producing organisms, case studies and existing regulations. Based on this analysis, risk assessments are carried out for each of the toxins, and recommendations are elaborated to improve the management of these risks in order to reduce the harmful effect of these toxins on public health.

The objective of this guidance is to provide direction to decision-makers on how to start ranking the public health risk posed by foodborne hazards and/or foods in their countries. The primary focus is microbial and chemical hazards in foods, but the overall approach could be used for any hazard. This guidance was developed with a wide audience in mind, including but not limited to microbiologists, toxicologists, chemists, environmental health scientists, public health epidemiologists, risk analysts, risk managers, and policy makers. Political will and a strong commitment to modernize food safety are key to the successful development and implementation of any risk ranking effort at the country level.

The Bad Bug Book 2nd Edition, released in 2012, provides current information about the major known agents that cause foodborne illness.Each chapter in this book is about a pathogen—a bacterium, virus, or parasite—or a natural toxin that can contaminate food and cause illness. The book contains scientific and technical information about the major pathogens that cause these kinds of illnesses.A separate “consumer box” in each chapter provides non-technical information, in everyday language. The boxes describe plainly what can make you sick and, more important, how to prevent it.The information provided in this handbook is abbreviated and general in nature, and is intended for practical use. It is not intended to be a comprehensive scientific or clinical reference.The Bad Bug Book is published by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.