The microbial safety of fish and fish products: Recent advances in understanding its significance, contamination sources, and control strategies

• Published in: Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety 2021-01, Vol.20 (1), p.738-786
• Main Authors: Sheng, Lina, Wang, Luxin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; antimicrobial resistant; Bacteria; contamination sources; fish safety; Fishery products; Food chains; Food contamination; Histamine; interventions; Listeria monocytogenes; microbiome; Microorganisms; Pathogens; Product safety; Reviews; Safety; Spoilage; Storage conditions
• ISSN: 1541-4337; 1541-4337
• DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12671

Microorganisms play a crucial and unique role in fish and fish product safety. The presence of human pathogens and the formation of histamine caused by spoilage bacteria make the control of both pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms critical for fish product safety. To provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the involvement of microorganisms in fish and fish product safety, this paper reviewed outbreak and recall surveillance data obtained from government agencies from 1998 to 2018 and identified major safety concerns associated with both domestic and imported fish products. The review also summarized all available literature about the prevalence of major and emerging microbial safety concerns, including Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Aeromonas hydrophila, in different fish and fish products and the survival of these pathogens under different storage conditions. The prevalence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic‐resistant genes (ARGs), two emerging food safety concerns, is also reviewed. Pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms as well as ARB and ARGs can be introduced into fish and fish products in both preharvest and postharvest stages. Many novel intervention strategies have been proposed and tested for the control of different microorganisms on fish and fish products. One key question that needs to be considered when developing and implementing novel control measures is how to ensure that the measures are cost and environment friendly as well as sustainable. Over the years, regulations have been established to provide guidance documents for good farming and processing practices. To be more prepared for the globalization of the food chain, harmonization of regulations is still needed.