Thermo Fisher Scientific develops imported seafood testing methods

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the development of three new testing methods for detecting banned substances in imported seafood.

Following recent concerns over possible contamination of imported aquatic foodstuffs with drugs and unsafe additives – such as malachite green, chloramphenicol and nitrofuran – the US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) banned the import of certain species of fish from China.

Interest was stirred in the conception of analytical systems for identifying trace levels of these substances – which are prohibited in food products for human consumption – after the ban was put into effect and Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed three such methods, it states.

Implementing the Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum range of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers with highly-selective reaction monitoring, the processes allow the trace-level analysis of samples such as animal tissue.

Scientific instruments president at Thermo Fisher Scientific Greg Herrema commented that the food testing methods will help food manufacturers and public health facilities to maintain protection of food supplies.

"The sensitivity and reliability that is achievable with Thermo Scientific instrumentation is important in detecting trace levels of the contaminants of concern to the FDA," he said.

It was recently announced that the company launched the Orion 2109XP, a fluoride monitor.