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Gesundheitsverosorge und Gewässerschutz

Precautionary protection of human health and water quality: What type of chemical regulations is appropriate for sensory impairment?

Welche Regelungen zu Chemikalien sind für Geschmacks- und Geruchsbeeinträchtigungen angemessen?

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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Aims and scope

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag erörtert Themen des Verbraucher- und Umweltschutzes, die im Zusammenhang mit der durch Kontamination mit Chemikalien verursachten Geschmacks- und Geruchsveränderung von Fischen und Krustentieren stehen: «Tainting».

Vorschriften, die dies verhindern sollen, werden vorgestellt. Tainting kann auf Fremdstoffe hinweisen. Sensorische Prüfungen sind jedoch nicht ausreichend empfindlich, um Umweltkontaminanten zu ermitteln. Die chemische Analyse der Verunreinigungen in Fischen, Krebsen und Algen ist wichtiger für die Lebensmitteltoxikologie als jedes organoleptische Inspektionssystem zur Ermittlung abweichenden Aromas. Es sollten keine generellen Prüfungen chemischer Produkte auf ihr Tainting-Potential im Rahmen von Zulassungsverfahren zukünftig verlangt werden. Alternativ sind bestehende Lebensmittelkontrollen und klarere haftungsrechtiche Lebensmittelkontrollen und klarere haftungsrechtliche Verantwortlichkeiten zu gewährleisten. Der Eintrag langsam metabolisierbarer oder schwer abbaubarer Chemikalien in das Wasser sollte aus lebensmittel-hygienischer Sicht unabhängig vom derzeitigen Wissensstand zum toxikologischen Potential solcher Stoffe strenger geregelt werden, um die Kontamination der Meeresfrüchte zu reduzieren.

Summary

This paper deals with aspects of consumer and environmental protection concerning chemically via contaminants induced off-odour and off-flavour of fish and shellfish: «Taining».

Regulations to prevent this effect are presented. Tainting may indicate xenobiotics in the food. However, organoleptic tests are not sensitive enough to detect environmental contamination. The chemical analysis of contaminants in fish, crustacea and algae is more important for food toxicology than any organoleptic inspection system for detecting tainting. General pre-emission testing for tainting should not be enforced anymore for chemical products. Alternatively, already existing food quality controls and well defined liability regulations should be ensured. From a food hygiene standpoint, water pollution with slowly metabolizable or not inherently biodegradable chemicals should be regulated more strictly not depending on the actual knowledge concerning toxic effects of such chemicals to reduce seafood contamination.

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Höfer, T. Gesundheitsverosorge und Gewässerschutz. Bundesgesundhbl 40, 158–166 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03044197

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