Kang'ombe, J

Kapute, Fanuel

Kiiyukia, S

Likongwe, J.S.

Mfitilodze, W.M.

English

Aquatic Commons

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Second RUFORUM Biennial Meeting  20 - 24  September 2010, Entebbe, Uganda
Abstract
Résumé
Research Application Summary
Food quality and safety issues are becoming a major concern
globally due to increased and widespread emerging risks related
to food borne illnesses. Countries around the world are creating
food safety agencies in compliance with national and
international food safety standards which Malawi also
desperately needs. Unfortunately, current food safety system
regarding fish and fish products faces mounting challenges due
to outdated laws and also problems in food regulations and
inspection procedures. Lack of up-to-date food quality standards
also undermine Malawi’s food exports, diminishing its ability to
compete in regional and international markets such as the
European Union.  This study will examine public health issues
associated with fish marketing and consumption in Malawi.
Key words:  Fish quality, food safety, hazard analysis, Malawi
Au niveau mondial, les questions de qualité et de sécurité des
produits alimentaires deviennent une préoccupation majeure à
cause des risques actuels croissants et répandus qui sont liés
aux maladies présentes dans les aliments. A travers le Monde
entier, les pays créent des agences de contrôle de sécurité
alimentaire conformément aux normes de sécurité alimentaire
nationales et internationales dont le Malawi a aussi besoin
désespérément. Malheureusement, le système actuel de
sécurité alimentaire concernant les poissons et les produits de
pêche fait face aux défis énormes à cause des  lois dépassées
et également des problèmes dans les normes alimentaires et
les procédures d’inspection. Le manque de normes actualisées
de qualité des produits alimentaires défavorisent également les
exportations des produits alimentaires du Malawi, diminuant sa
capacité de concurrence sur les marchés régionaux et
internationaux tels que l’Union Européenne.  Cette étude
examinera des questions de santé publique liées à la
Quality and risk assessment of safety hazards in fresh fish and fish products
in Malawi
Kapute, F.1, Likongwe, J.S.1, Kang’ombe, J. 1, Mfitilodze, B.1  & Kiiyukia, C.2
1University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fisheries Science Department,
P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
2Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, P.O. Box 62,000 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding author:  fanuelkapute@yahoo.co.uk
Kapute, F.   et al.
1236
Background
Literature Summary
Study Description
commercialisation et à la consommation des poissons au
Malawi.
Mots clés: Qualité des poissons, sécurité alimentaire, analyse
de risque, Malawi
Food safety issues are becoming a concern worldwide due to
increased emerging risks related to food borne illnesses such
as melamine, salmonella, swine flu, cholera etc. Fish are a highly
perishable product that needs utmost care to prevent spoilage
and microbial contamination that would pose a threat to the
health and safety of the consumer. Malawi, where fish provides
the most affordable dietary animal protein, needs food safety
standards that comply with international standards.
Unfortunately, the current food safety system regarding fish
and fish products faces mounting challenges due to outdated
laws and also problems in food regulations and inspection
procedures. These challenges also undermine Malawi’s food
exports, diminishing its ability to compete in regional and
international markets such as the European Union (EU).
Awareness of food quality and safety and related issues such
as quality, traceability, hazard analysis critical control point
(HACCP) and certification is increasingly becoming a concern
as trade in fish and fish products increase. FAO (2006) reports
that globalization and expansion of the international food trade
has led to the development of fish safety and quality standards
that have a significant impact on the international fish trade.
Malawi is not isolated and hence a call for heightened consumer
awareness of food safety.
This study will be carried out over a period of one year
throughout Malawi beginning July 2010 to June 2011. In general,
the study will provide indepth information on likely public health
risks involving consumption of fish and fish products in Malawi.
Specifically, the study intends to i) carry out an extensive review
of the current fish quality and safety standards in Malawi, ii)
carry out a risk assessment of quality and safety hazards in fish
and fish products in Malawi to minimize the risk of food borne
illness through conducting sensory, biochemical, chemical,
physical and  microbiological tests for local and imported fish
and fish products in Malawi, iii) conduct a hazard analysis critical
control point (HACCP) for local and imported fish and fish
products, and iv) develop a traceability system for the fresh
fish industry in Malawi.
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Second RUFORUM Biennial Meeting  20 - 24  September 2010, Entebbe, Uganda
Fresh fish samples for sensory analysis will be collected
(purchased) from selected outlets. To maintain quality, fish will
be immediately preserved in ice. The fish will then be carried
to the laboratory at Bunda College for sensory analysis using
the Quality Index Method (Hyldig and Petersen, 2004).
Biochemical and chemical, physical and microbiological analysis
will also be carried out. The Quality Index (QI) data will be
analysed as described by Bonilla et al. (2007). Student’s t-test
and analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be computed by the
Microsoft Excel for the bacterial counts where counts will be
log-transformed before the statistical analysis.
The field of fish quality and postharvest analysis is new in
Malawi and so is the study. Results from this study will be
instrumental in strengthening consumer safety in terms of fish
and fish products in Malawi.
We thank the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building
in Agriculture (RUFORUM) for the financial support towards
the study which  has just commenced.
Bonilla, A.C., Sveinsdottir, K. and Martinsdottir, E. 2007.
Development of quality index method (QIM) scheme for
fresh cod (Gadus morhua) fillets and application in shelf
life study. Food control, 18, 352-358.
Food and Agriculture Organization, 2006. Reforming fisheries
and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific Fishery
Commission (APFIC) Regional Consultative Forum Meeting.
RAP Publication 2006/19. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hyldig, G. and Green-Petersen, D.M.B. 2004. Quality index
method – An objective tool for determination of sensory
quality. Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology
13(4).
Research Application
Acknowledgement
References


Quality and risk assessment of safety hazards in fresh fish and fish products in Malawi

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Quality and risk assessment of safety hazards in fresh fish and fish products in Malawi

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