In high
spiked sample, when the TVBN contents reached the decomposition
level of >30 mg/100 g, the histamine content had increased
to more than 130 mg/100 g during storage at or above 25 C (Figs.
2B and 3B). However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has demonstrated that histamine potential hazard level in illnesscausing
fish have been often above 50 mg/100 g (500 ppm) (USFDA,
2001). It is also observed that histamine at 20 mg/100 g may
be sufficient to cause the symptoms of scombroid poisoning
(CDC, 2000). Thus, our test results suggest that for the contaminated
tuna dumpling stuffing with E. aerogenes at a storage temperature
of 25 C and above, the use of TVBN value as an
indication criterion to predict their histamine contents and their
potential histamine-related health hazard is not reliable.