Seafood ChoiCeS

Seafood Choices: Balancing Benefits and Risks
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11762.html
hEALTh RISKS ASSOCIATED WITh SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION
toxic levels in seafood (FDA, 2001a). Regulatory monitoring programs have
been effective; but new toxins and plankton blooms are emerging worldwide,
particularly in areas less subject to surveillance. Incidences of toxicity
could increase without controls, although the likelihood for an outbreak is
low. Appendix Table B-4 identifies tolerances and action levels set by federal
agencies for potentially problematic products.
Chemotherapeutants
Most aquaculture operations depend on the use of various chemotherapeutants
to control infectious diseases (FAO/NACA/WHO Study Group,
1999; FDA, 2001a). Aquaculture initially relied upon the same antimicrobials
employed for production of beef and poultry and other land-based
farming. The resultant food safety concerns, as for land-based agriculture,
include possible toxic residue in the edible portions, contributions to potential
antibiotic-resistant diseases (for both animals and consumers), and
concomitant issues involving environmental contamination. Although the
volume of chemotherapeutants used in aquaculture is far less than for other
medical practices and agricultural production, international aquacultural
use with less scrutiny may increase. Product seizures due to the presence of
chemotherapeutants in some imported farm-raised seafood have occurred.
(Allshouse, 2003; http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/3/ora_oasis_i_16.html;
http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/1/ora_oasis_i_16.html).
Compounds of concern have included chloramphenicol, nitrofurans,
fluoroquinolone, malachite green, and others (Table 4-15). All of these antimicrobial/antifungal
agents have been used at some time for aquacultural
production in the United States, prior to the implemention of restrictions by
federal agencies (FDA, 2005f). The established level of controls is zero toler-
TABLE 4-15 Antimicrobial/Antifungal Agents Used at Some Time for
Aquaculture Production in the United States
Illegal Antibiotic or Chemotherapeutant Action Level Based on Detection Limit
Chloramphenicol 0.3 ppb
Nitrofurans 1.0 ppb
Malachite green 1.0 ppb
Fluoroquinolones 5.0 ppb
Quinolones (Oxolinic Acid, Flumequine) 10.0 ppb (oxolinic acid) and 20.0 ppb
Ivermectin 10.0 ppb
Oxytetracycline 2.0 ppm
NOTES: ppb = parts per billion; ppm = parts per million.
SOURCE: Personal communication, W. Jones, Food and Drug Administration, October 12,
2006.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.