A case study on the development of representative sampling procedure to determine mercury levels in a lot of tuna caught by static trap

• Main Authors: Pierluigi Piras, Antonio Assaretti, Gianuario Fiori, Andrea Sanna, Giannina Chessa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2019-12-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Food Safety
• Subjects: Bluefin tunas, Fish meat sampling, Mercury determination
• Online Access: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/ijfs/article/view/8165

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.