Assurance of seafood quality

This document is the result of a series of lecture notes prepared by the author and utilized at different workshops and training activities organized by the FAO/DANIDA Project on Training on Fish Technology and Quality Control (GCP/INT/391/DEN) since 1986. Such activities, carried out in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean provided an excellent opportunity to improve the text according to practical experience obtained in the field.

The author has also utilized part of the material presented as lecture notes at the Technological University, Lyngby, Denmark, at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, and at the Alborg University, Alborg, Denmark.

FAO has decided to publish it as an FAO Fisheries Technical Paper rather than as a project publication, to allow for a widespread diffusion in view of the worldwide relevance of the subject discussed.

The present document was originally prepared for use at courses on assurance of seafood quality conducted for trainees with a basic knowledge of food microbiology or biochemistry. However, for people with practical experience working on quality assurance in the fish industry the document provides the necessary background information and guidelines for their daily work.

Many people have provided constructive criticisms, useful suggestions and contributions, in particular Dr Susanne KnΦchel and Professor Mogens Jakobsen, both at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, who have contributed with section 6.1 and sections 5.2 and 6.2 respectively. The document was produced and edited by Mr H. Lupin (FAO/FIIU, Project Manager of GCP/INT/391/DEN).

The bibliographical references have been presented as submitted by the author.