Fresh and Frozen Shrimp: A Profile of Filth, Microbiologica! Contamination, and Decomposition.

A 2-year nationwide survey was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration to provide current information about filth, decomposition, and microbiological contamination of domestic and imported fresh and frozen shrimp. Whole or equivalent filth insects, mostly ants, were found in 14.4% of the samples. Of countries contributing at least 10 samples for filth analysis, India had the highest percentage positive for filth insects (45.5%); the United States had the lowest (6.3%). Filth insect fragments were present in 5.4% of the samples. Incidental insects were present in 6.3% of the samples, with flies the most commonly found. Of countries contributing at least 10 samples for filth analysis, India had the highest percentage positive for incidental insects (27.3%); Ecuador had the lowest (2.3%). Unidentified insect fragments were found in 33.3% of the samples; cockroach excreta pellets were present in 2.1%, rat or mouse hairs in 5.7%, and other striated animal hairs in 15.3%. Of countries contributing at least 10 samples for filth analysis, the Philippines had the highest percentages positive (30.0 and 50.0%) for rat or mouse hairs and other striated hairs, respectively; Malaysia was close behind with 23.1 and 46.2%. Samples from the United States had the lowest percentage positive for rat or mouse hairs (0.9%) and other striated hairs (7.2%). Listeria spp. were found in 6.8% of the samples; Salmonella spp. were found in 8.1%. Some level of decomposition was observed in 15.4% of the samples tested organoleptically.

Microanalytical Quality of Canned Collard, Creecy, Kale, Mustard, and Turnip Greens.

A 1-year national retail market survey was made to determine the sanitary quality of canned collard, creecy (land cress), kale, mustard, and turnip greens. The official methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used to count light filth such as aphids, thrips, mites, moth larvae, and beetle larvae. Analysis of 997 samples of canned greens weighing 100 g showed filth levels lowest for kale and highest for mustard greens. Maximum counts for defects in each canned green were 71 aphids, thrips, and mites and 7 moth and beetle larvae for canned collard greens; 309 aphids, thrips, and mites and 10 moth and beetle larvae for canned creecy greens; 31 aphids, thrips, and mites and 0 moth and beetle larvae for canned kale greens; 547 aphids, thrips, and mites and 12 moth and beetle larvae for canned mustard greens; and 530 aphids, thrips, and mites and 8 moth and beetle larvae for canned turnip greens. Percent of samples containing each defect ranged as follows: aphids, thrips and mites, 25.0% for canned kale greens to 77.9% for canned mustard greens; moth and beetle larvae, 0% for canned kale greens to 38.5% for canned creecy greens.

Microanalytical Quality of Canned Crabmeat, Sardines, and Tuna.

A 1-year national retail market survey was made to determine the sanitary quality of canned crabmeat, sardines and tuna. The official methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used to count light filth such as whole or equivalent flies, insect fragments, rodent hair fragments, whole feathers or feather fragments and feather barbules. Over 4000 samples of 200 g (crabmeat) or 225 g (sardines and tuna) were analyzed; filth levels were generally low. Maximum counts for each defect were 8 whole or equivalent flies for canned sardines, 18 insect fragments for canned crabmeat, 3 rodent hair fragments for canned crabmeat and tuna, 2 whole feathers or feather fragments for canned crabmeat and 5 feather barbules for canned crabmeat. Percent of samples containing each defect ranged as follows: whole or equivalent flies, 0.2% for canned sardines and tuna to 1.8% for canned crabmeat; insect fragments, 0.5% for canned sardines to 11.1% for canned crabmeat; rodent hair fragments, 0.3% for canned sardines to 4.7% for canned crabmeat; whole feathers or feather fragments, 0.0% for canned tuna to 0.2% for canned crabmeat; and feather barbules, 0.4% for canned crabmeat to 1.4% for canned tuna.

Microanalytical Quality of Imported Green Coffee Beans.

A 3-year national survey was made to determine the sanitary quality of green coffee beans offered for import into the United States. The methods of the Food and Drug Administration's Macroanalytical Procedures Manual were used to analyze samples for mammalian excreta, insect damage and mold. Insect damage was the most frequently encountered defect. The percent of samples containing insect damage was 70.6%, and the range of insect-damaged beans was 0 to 31.0% per sample. Mold was found in 23.5% of the samples, and percent of moldy beans ranged from 0 to 31.0% per sample. Mammalian excreta was found in 9.3% of the samples, and levels ranged from 0 to 50.63 mg/lb. African and Asian coffee beans generally had higher mean analyte levels than did beans from Central and South America.

Molds and Tenuazonic Acid in Fresh Tomatoes Used for Catsup Production.

The mold flora was determined for 146 samples of fresh but visibly moldy tomatoes collected from sorting belts in tomato catsup processing plants in California and in Midwestern and Eastern United States. Mold found in 141 of the samples included at least 22 genera, principally Alternaria , Aspergillus , Cladosporium , Fusarium and Penicillium , and 51 species. The California tomatoes were dominated by Geotrichum candidum and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium ; Midwest and East tomatoes were dominated by Alternaria . This suggested that the predominant molds in tomatoes may differ, depending on geographical source. Tenuazonic acid (TA), a toxic metabolite of Alternaria spp., was found in 73 of the samples at a range of 0.4 to 69.7 (average 4.94) µg/g of moldy tissue; however, Alternaria spp. were not found in 35 of the 73 TA-positive samples. It is possible that other molds may produce TA or that the toxin-producing Alternaria died off before our sampling.

Effects of Processing Equipment on Howard Mold and Rot Fragment Counts of Tomato Catsup.

Two studies were done to determine the effects of processing equipment on Howard mold and rot fragment counts of tomato catsup. In a pilot plant study in 1980, batches of catsup with known cut-out rot levels were produced and processed through various types of comminution equipment. Urschel and Fitzpatrick mills and homogenizers at 500 to 700 and 1500 to 2000 psi increased mold counts more than twofold over the range of data obtained. Contrary to previous reports, Urschel mills increased rot counts significantly. A nationwide survey was conducted in 1983 to determine if similar effects would be found with well-characterized commercial products. Data were obtained on inline and finished products from 164 lots of catsup produced at 16 plants located across the country. Urschel and Fitzpatrick mills tended to increase mold counts over twofold and caused a slight increase in rot counts. High pressure homogenizers (≥2000 psi) tended to decrease mold counts; low pressure homogenizers (<2000 psi) increased them. Homogenization at any pressure reduced rot counts dramatically. Although mold counts were highest for catsup produced in the eastern United States and lowest for catsup produced in the West, milling and low pressure homogenization were also most prevalent in the East and least prevalent in the West. When the effects of these types of comminution were removed, the difference between regions diminished. Compared with the norm, rainfall levels for the growing regions involved in this survey were fairly typical.

Microanalytical Quality of Ground and Unground Marjoram, Sage and Thyme, Ground Allspice, Black Pepper and Paprika.

A 3-year national retail market survey was made to determine the sanitary quality of ground and unground marjoram, sage and thyme, and ground allspice, black pepper and paprika. The official methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used to count light filth such as insect fragments, rodent hair fragments, feather barbules, mites, thrips and aphids. Insect fragments were the most frequently encountered defect, with count means ranging from 7.8 for 10 g of ground allspice to 287.7 for 10 g of ground thyme. The percent of samples containing insect fragments ranged from 70.8 to 99.6 for ground allspice and ground thyme, respectively. Other counts ranged as follows: rodent hair fragments, 0 to 200 (for 10 g of ground sage); feather barbules, 0 to 60 (for 10 g of ground sage); mites, 0 to 999 (for 25 g of unground thyme); thrips, 0 to 99 (for 25 g of unground thyme); aphids, 0 to 116 (for 10 g of ground sage). Howard mold counts of paprika ranged from 0 to 99%, with a mean of 2.8%.

Microanalytical Quality of Ground and Unground Oregano, Ground Cinnamon and Ground Nutmeg.

A 3-year national retail market survey was made to determine the sanitary quality of ground and unground oregano, ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon. The official methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used to count light filth such as insect fragments, rodent hair fragments, feather barbules, mites, aphids and thrips. Insect fragments were the most frequently encountered defect, with count means ranging from 27.9 to 265.7. The percent of samples containing insect fragments ranged from 92.0 to 97.5 for unground and ground oregano, respectively. Other counts ranged as follows: rodent hair fragments, 0 to 703; feather barbules, 0 to 99; mites, 0 to 52; thrips, 0 to 95; aphids, 0 to 209.

Mold in Fruit Nectars and Infant Fruit Purees.

A national retail market survey was made to determine the levels of mold contamination in apricot, peach, and pear nectars and in apricot, peach, and pear infant purees. A total of 1987 samples were analyzed. The mean and range of Howard mold counts for each product were apricot nectar 1.5% (0-15%), peach nectar 1.2% (0-8%), pear nectar 1.1% (0-9%), apricot puree l.0% (0-10%), peach puree 0.9% (0-9%) and pear puree 0.5% (0-6%).