Seafood

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Notable pathogen–food commodity pairings emerged, including Clostridium botulinum and Alaskan traditional fermented meats and fish. The analysis was conducted by FDA and CDC researchers. 

Highlighting contaminated seafood as a particular concern, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act answers FDA’s request for the authority to destroy food imports that do not pass safety inspections at the border, preventing importers from “port shopping” their unsafe products.

Breading mixtures may be reused for different foods in foodservice operations. An FDA-supported study found that both shrimp and cod allergens accumulate in reused breading and transfer to subsequent foods, although the cod cross-contact risk was much greater.

One of the primary roles of the new office will be coordinating across USDA agencies to ensure fishermen are integrated into USDA programs.

In the fight against food insecurity, seafood is an essential source of protein. Growing the responsibly produced seafood supply depends on every part of the value chain. Industry must ensure that operational models meet evolving market expectations, and then properly leverage them to drive profitability and success.

Industry members have requested the market name for specific Sebastes (rockfish) species be changed to “snapper” in the Seafood List. FDA has identified critical areas that must be considered before this change is made, including classification, food safety and hazard identification, and labeling and allergen concerns.

EPA repealed Biden-era amendments that had tightened emissions regulations under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule. Critics warn that this decision could lead to greater bioaccumulation of the neurotoxin methylmercury in fish, increasing human dietary exposure.

An EFSA survey found that only one in ten respondents reported awareness about the health risks of seafood, and one-third of seafood consumers ate species high in mercury three or more times a week.

Food fraud in the seafood sector is a growing and complex issue with serious health consequences, requiring a coordinated effort involving strict enforcement, advanced analytical tools, stakeholder collaboration, and public education.

An international study has shown that European seafood is high in PFAS, and that fish exports expose consumers in regions of the world with otherwise low levels of pollution to harmful “forever chemicals.”