Biogenic amine content, histamine-forming bacteria, and adulteration of pork in tuna sausage products

J Food Prot. 2012 Oct;75(10):1814-22. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-12-061.

Abstract

Twenty-five tuna sausage products were purchased from retail markets in Taiwan. The rates of occurrence of biogenic amines, histamine-forming bacteria, and adulteration by pork and poultry were determined. The average content of various biogenic amines in all tested samples was less than 2.0 mg/100 g (<0.05 to 1.85 mg/100 g). Thirteen histamine-producing bacterial strains isolated from tested samples produced 12.1 to 1,261 ppm of histamine in Trypticase soy broth supplemented with 1.0% L-histidine. Among them, Raoultella ornithinolytica (one strain), Enterobacter aerogenes (one strain), and Staphylococcus pasteuri (two strains) were identified as prolific histamine formers. PCR assay revealed that the adulteration rates were 80% (20 of 25) and 4% (1 of 25) for pork and poultry, respectively, in tuna sausage. The fish species in the tuna sausage samples were identified as Thunnus albacares for 22 samples (88%), Thunnus alalunga for 1 sample (4%), and Thunnus thynnus for 1 sample (4%), whereas the remaining sample was identified as Makaira nigricans (blue marlin).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biogenic Amines / analysis*
  • Biogenic Amines / biosynthesis
  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Fish Products / analysis*
  • Fish Products / microbiology
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Food Microbiology
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Histamine / analysis*
  • Histamine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Meat Products / analysis*
  • Meat Products / microbiology
  • Poultry Products / analysis
  • Poultry Products / microbiology
  • Taiwan
  • Tuna / microbiology

Substances

  • Biogenic Amines
  • Histamine