A revolutionary new food safety test developed by Kiwi and British scientists has been hailed as world-leading and of great importance to New Zealand’s shellfish industry. The test for paralytic shellfish toxins, developed by scientists at Cawthron Institute and the UK’s Centre for Environmental Research and Science (Cefas), can be used on a variety of commercial shellfish species and is quicker, simpler and more sensitive than the previous test method. New Zealand Oyster Industry Association committee member and Biomarine chief executive Jim Dollimore says aquaculture farmers and regulators are thrilled with the innovation, as it is world-leading and has improved the industry’s credibility amongst customers and the industry worldwide. “The development will avoid situations in the past where levels of some toxins have been sufficient to close shellfish harvest areas and trigger much more expensive testing – which always came up negative, meaning production was put on hold unnecessarily,” he says. The paralytic shellfish toxins are an internationally regulated class of marine biotoxin produced by microscopic algae. These toxins can naturally accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish such as mussels, oysters and scallops, and pose a serious human health risk. They can lead to prolonged closures of commercial and recreational shellfish harvest areas, and financial loss to industry. Tests are conducted regularly to protect public health and ensure access to export markets, but are time-consuming and complex, Cawthron marine toxin chemist and Safe New Zealand Seafood programme co-leader Dr Tim Harwood says. The new testing method, in development since 2013, uses LC-MS (liquid chromatographymass spectrometry), an analytical chemistry technique that separates, detects and identifies particular compounds of interest. “Through research we’ve been doing as part of the Safe NZ Seafood programme we knew we had something to offer to overcome these issues - we could provide a test that was more accurate, faster, and would benefit the New Zealand T E S T I N G validation study, meaning different labs from around the world test the method, analyse provided samples blind, and then report the results back to Cawthron, where they are collated and reviewed. “If it’s a robust method, there should be good agreement between the results,” Harwood says. Jim Dollimore says the test is clearly better than the “medieval” methods around in the 1990s. “To be there with New Zealand leading it is an excellent initiative, proving New Zealand aquaculture is innovative and a leading player in food safety issues.” NEW ZEALAND LEADING WORLD IN SHELLFISH TESTING seafood industry,” Harwood says. Ministry for Primary Industries specialist adviser for seafood Brian Roughan says the test has certainly achieved that. “It’s sound science and a testament to the calibre of scientists at Cawthron who coordinate this programme and developed this method.” Aquaculture New Zealand chair Bruce Hearn says Cawthron’s work is “outstanding. "This group of people dealing with biotoxins have always been right up there dealing with the world’s best, and have in fact led the world. Chemical testing for biotoxins was a world first and they’ve continued it on, and this will become the world standard once again.” Cawthron has obtained approval from the Ministry for Primary Industries to use it as part of the New Zealand marine biotoxin monitoring programme, and will need to go through a multi-lab www.foodtechnology.co.nz 29
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