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. 2016 Oct 28;5(4):71.
doi: 10.3390/foods5040071.

Seafood Safety and Quality: The Consumer's Role

Doris T Hicks  1
Affiliations

Seafood Safety and Quality: The Consumer's Role

Doris T Hicks. Foods. .

Abstract

All the good news about seafood-the health and nutritional benefits, the wide varieties and flavors-has had a positive effect on consumption: people are eating more seafood (http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/seafood/pdfs/SeafoodSavvy.pdf). Yet consumers want to be assured that seafood is as safe as, or safer to eat than, other foods. When you hear "seafood safety", think of a safety net designed to protect you, the consumer, from food-borne illness. Every facet of the seafood industry, from harvester to consumer, plays a role in holding up the safety net. The role of state and federal agencies, fishermen, aquaculturists, retailers, processors, restaurants, and scientists is to provide, update, and carry out the necessary handling, processing, and inspection procedures to give consumers the safest seafood possible. The consumer's responsibility is to follow through with proper handling techniques, from purchase to preparation. It doesn't matter how many regulations and inspection procedures are set up; the final edge of the safety net is held by the consumer. This article will give you the information you need to educate yourself and be assured that the fish and shellfish you consume are safe. The most common food-borne illnesses are caused by a combination of bacteria naturally present in our environment and food handling errors made in commercial settings, food service institutions, or at home.

Keywords: consumers; safe handling; seafood.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Whole fish: bottom fish is older eyes are clouding over. (Source: Florida Sea Grant).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fresh fish fillet. (Source: Florida Sea Grant).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

    1. Hicks D.T., Kramer D. Seafood Safety: What Consumers Need to Know. [(accessed on 27 October 2016)]. University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program and the National Seafood HACCP Alliance. Available online: https://www.deseagrant.org/sites/default/files/product-docs/seafood_safe....
    1. Delaware Sea Grant, A Consumer Guide to Safe Seafood Handling. [(accessed on 27 October 2016)]. Available online: https://www.deseagrant.org/sites/default/files/product-docs/safe_seafood....
    1. Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know. [(accessed on 30 September 2016)]; Available online: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm393070.htm.
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    1. U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service . Preventing Food-Borne Illness: A Guide to Safe Food Handling. Government Printing Office; Washington, DC, USA: 1990.

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