Biological contamination-free Thai frozen food.
Issued Date
2007
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Yaowalark Sukthana (2007). Biological contamination-free Thai frozen food.. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/35013
Title
Biological contamination-free Thai frozen food.
Author(s)
Abstract
The globalization of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on food products increases the possibility
of more extensive transmission of biological contamination. Hazard Analysis Critical
Control Point (HACCP) system was introduced as a tool to prevent protectionistic trade. As
a major seafood exporter to various regions of the world, Thailand is considering to include
the HACCP system for the frozen food industries. Hazard identification of protozoa was
performed in raw materials, food products and water used in the industry in 3 Provinces,
namely Samut Sakon, Ranong and Songkla. Raw and treated water samples were collected
by large volume technique through a filter with 1 μm nominal porosity. Immunomagnetic
separation (IMS) for Giardia and Cryptosporidium was then applied to eluted and
concentrated water. Identifications were individually performed by immunofluorescent and
PCR techniques. In raw water, Giardia was found in 10, 10 and 60% whilst Cryptosporidium
was found in 10, 20 and 35% in Samut Sakon, Ranong and Songkla Provinces, respectively.
However, no contamination in treated water samples was found. Coli form bacteria was also
determined by culture technique, but was not found in any treated water. Giardia was also
identified in raw materials and food products. The viability of recovered protozoa was
analyzed by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The giardin betasubunit
mRNA gene was selected as the target. Positive RT-PCR for Giardia recovered from
raw materials and food products indicates viability. The effect of ultra violet light with the
concentration of 10 mWs/cm(2) for 20-100 seconds inactivated viable recovered protozoa, but
the sun light exposure was unable to control those viable biohazards.
Information gathering from this study suggested that protozoa are important
biological hazard recovered not only from water system, but also from raw materials and
final frozen food products. We recommended that the critical control points should be
applied in all steps including water system by using ultra violet short exposure time as well as
raw material and food product systems by controlling human contamination. Further studies
concerning tracing the sources of contamination and an alternative methods, which are more
sensitive but simple to carry out on an industrialized scale, are needed.
Description
National Research Council of Thailand, Thailand. March 12, 2007