Investigation of the contents of biogenic amines and some food safety parameters of various commercially salted fish products

Seventy-eight salted fish products originating from Turkey and European countries were analyzed for their content of biogenic amines (BA), water activity (aw), salt and moisture, and their microbiological counts. About 10% of the samples exceeded regulated histamine levels established by the FDA and/or EU authorities. The highest histamine value was found for brined anchovy as 422 ppm. Among the other BAs, the highest level was obtained for tyramine as 524 ppm. The low aw (<0.9) values were obtained with samples containing water phase salt (%WPS) content over 20%. Brined and dry salted products had higher %WPS than lakerda, which is a Turkish and Greek salted fish product. Despite of salt used as preservative agent in fish processing, it is found that salting alone is not enough to guarantee low levels of histamine and other BAs. This study indicated that commercial salted fish products, particularly lakerda, may still present health risk for BAs depending on processing technique, handling and storage conditions of raw material, and during processing. Therefore, processors and regulatory bodies are advised to re-evaluate their productions for safe handling measures.

► Histamine health risk still exists for commercial salted fish of EU & Turkish origin.
► This study represents first time biogenic amine levels of commercial lakerda products.
► Salting alone does not guarantee low levels of biogenic amines in fish products.
► Histamine monitoring at raw material receiving stage is important for salting fish.
► The values of salt, pH, aw & bacteria counts varied according to types of fish products.