The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database in support of risk analysis of biogenic amines in food

In the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database, an exchange information tool on risk measures related to food and feed controls, notifications concerning the presence of biogenic amines in food are mainly histamine in fish products. This reflects the current EU legislation which sets food safety criteria for histamine in certain fish products. Average histamine concentrations in about 300 notifications between 2002 and 2010 were below 200 mg/kg fish product in 17%, between 200 and 500 mg/kg in 36%, between 500 and 1000 mg/kg in 16%, between 1000 and 2000 mg/kg in 12% and above 2000 mg/kg in 11% of notifications. A high variability of histamine concentrations in different samples originating from the same fish product of up to a factor of 500 was reported. RASFF introduced ‘Food poisoning’ as a reason for notification in 2008 and reported around 60 negatively affected consumers due to dietary histamine intake until the end of 2010. Based on the evolution and development of notifications in the RASFF database, it can be anticipated that these data will increasingly provide valuable ‘real-life’ and ‘up to date’ evidence to support food safety risk analysis in the future.