EU REGULATED MARINE BIOTOXINS IN SEA FOOD: ORIGIN, CLASSIFICATION, CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND INTOXICATION EFFECTS

St. Georgieva, Zl. Peteva, M. Stancheva

Abstract: Sea food, especially marine shells (mussles, rapana, scallops) are considered as healthy food due to their high value of unsaturated fatty acids and high protein intake. Global production of mussels has serious economic impact. In last years 25% was from European aquaculture. Despite the high nutritional value of shells, they have bad reputation due to the possible toxins which could be present in their meat. Marine biotoxins can be found in all trophic levels of marine food web but are produced by certain phytoplankton species. Classification of current EU regulated marine biotoxins includes two main groups – hydrophilic (PSP and ASP) and lipophilic toxins (DSP and AZP). This review presents their structure, classification and symptoms of intoxication. In addition, EU regulatory limits for marine toxins are discussed.

Keywords: harmful marine microalgae; marine biotoxins; sea food; symptoms of intoxication

Date published: 2017-08-18