Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Nov 19;9(3):8410.
doi: 10.4081/ijfs.2020.8410. eCollection 2020 Oct 16.

Evaluation of the marketing methods and handling of live shellfish (American lobsters) for the purpose of sale as food: First evaluations in Piedmont, Italy

Daniele Pattono  1 , Elisa D'Agui  1 , Marta Fidelio  1 , Bartolomeo Griglio  2 , Stefano Gili  2 , Tiziana Civera  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of the marketing methods and handling of live shellfish (American lobsters) for the purpose of sale as food: First evaluations in Piedmont, Italy

Daniele Pattono et al. Ital J Food Saf. .

Abstract

Some species of crustaceans pose problems during marketing, being sold alive. Food Business Operators (FBO) have the need to adopt specific measures based on opinions and guidelines of national and international associations. This investigation was aimed at evaluating the practices in use in the marketing of live crustaceans in Piedmont. Twenty-three plants were analyzed using checklists and through physical and chemical measurements of the water in the holding tanks. The situation appears uneven in the application of Good Handling Practices (GHP), management of animals and knowledge of FBO. Only 48% of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans had a dedicated section. Immobilization of the claws was the option identified to control aggressiveness. Dead animals are mainly identified as Category 3 instead of other hygienically safe options. Only 1/3 of interviewed can indicate the slaughtering methods recognized as most suitable for these animals. The aquariums show a good state of maintenance and most of evaluated parameters complaint to GHP except for nitrites (35%). In conclusion, the situation reflects the different levels of knowledge of the FBOs. Therefore the veterinarian of the public health service can propose itself as a reference point for specific training.

Keywords: Animal welfare; Crustacean Decapods; Homarus americanus.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Bernardi C, Baggiani L, Tirloni E, Stella S, Colombo F, Moretti VM, Cattaneo P, 2015. Hemolimph parameters as physiological biomarkers in American lobate (Homarus americanus) for monitoring the effects of two commercial maintenance methods. Fish Res 161:280-4.
    1. Candotti P, 2007. Sofferenza di Aragoste e Astici vivi con chele legate e su letto di ghiaccio durante la fase di commercializzazione. C.Re.N.B.A., Parere del 29.07.2007; 1-4.
    1. D’Agaro E, Sabbioni V, Messina M, Tibaldi E, Bongiorno T, Tulli F, Lippe G, Fabbro A, Stecchini M, 2014. Effect of confinement and starvation on stress parameters in the American lobsters (Homarus americanus) Ital J Food Sc 13:3530:891-6.
    1. De Fonseca CF, Tamford TLM, Andrade SAC., De Souza EL, Da Silva CGM, 2013. Hygienic-sanitary working practices and implementation of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan in lobster processing industries. Food Sci Technol 33:127-36.
    1. Esposito G, Nucera D, Meloni D. 2018. Retail stores policies for marketing of lobsters in Sardinia (Italy) as influenced by different practices related to animal welfare and product quality. Foods 7, 103. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources