Survey of histamine levels in fresh fish and fish products collected in Puglia (Italy) by ELISA and HPLC with fluorimetric detection

Histamine content was tested on 311 samples of fresh fish and fish products collected in Puglia (Italy) in the years 2009-2011. The analyses were carried out employing ELISA for screening and HPLC to confirm suspicious non-compliant samples according to Commission Regulation (EC) 1441/2007. Histamine concentration >2.5 mg kg−1 was detected in 58% of total samples with 5% of non-compliance. Among 216 samples of fresh fish, 70% had a content of histamine less than 10 mg kg−1, while a percentage of 6% showed histamine level higher than 100 mg kg−1. Although for processed anchovies a contamination below 50 mg kg−1 in 21 samples (75%) was observed, the highest percentage of “non-compliant” samples (14%) was found. Good quality of canned tuna and canned mackerel was demonstrated by histamine content lower than 10 mg kg−1. The validation of both ELISA and HPLC methods and the optimization of the confirmatory method were also reported.

► Histamine contamination was investigated in 311 samples of fish from Italy. ► Comparison between ELISA and HPLC methods was carried-out. ► A percentage of 5% of non-compliant samples was registered. ► The highest percentage of positive samples was detected in anchovies. ► Histamine poisoning cases were reported.