title: [Aquaculture in Italy. An integrated model of product quality control].
abstract: Aquaculture is becoming increasingly diffuse even in Italy. The increased production introduces new problems such as product quality control and process safety. This article presents the results of a research project, funded by the Ministry of the Environment, whose aim was to evaluate and promote aquaculture product quality and safety in an environmentally responsible way. Four intensive land-based and offshore aquaculture sites were monitored to evaluate microbiological, biological and chemical (i.e. polychlorinated biphenyls and endocrine disruptors) quality of water, products and fish feed. In total 154 samples were analysed, of which 66 were water samples, 55 product samples and 33 feed samples. Salmonella and other enteric pathogens were absent in products and the aquatic environment, while other environmental pathogens of the Vibrio species were detected. Bacterial load and fecal indicators were found to be higher in off-shore products and in mussels from all aquaculture sites. PCBs were detected in all products in concentrations below 2 microg/g fresh product (Food and Drug Administration), but on average, higher concentrations were detected in off-shore products. No estrogen mimetic activity was detected in fish feed, in contrast it was detected in offshore products and water. Product quality was found to be strictly correlated with the quality of the environment. Genetically modified organisms were detected in fish feed but no integration of genetic material in products occurred.
authors: Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Dipartimento de Medicina Sperimantale, Sezione de Medicina Clinica e Sanità Pubblica.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: De Giusti
authors: Renata Amodio
authors: RA
authors: Cocchieri
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: De Vito
authors: Guido Maria
authors: GM
authors: Grasso
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Ortaggi
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Reali
authors: Gualtiero
authors: G
authors: Ricciardi
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Romano-Spica
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Boccia
mesh_terms: D017756:Aquaculture / Q000592:standards*; D007558:Italy; D011786:Quality Control; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical