Italian Journal of Food Safety 2020; volume 9:8774

Risks and critical issues related Chinese Mitten . The presence of E. to the discovery on the market sinensis in Europe is reported since the early Correspondence: Federica Maria Sessa, Food 1900s plausibly due to the accidental Chain studio associato, via G. Guinizzelli 24, of unauthorized live alien species introduction of zoea larval stages through 50133, Firenze (FI), Italy. on the Italian territory: Chinese ballast waters (Bentley, 2011; Hopkins, Tel: +39 3495456481. E-mail: [email protected] crab (Eriocheir sinensis) 2001). The first survey was recorded in Germany in 1912, in the Aller river near the Key words: sinensis; Chinese city of Rethem and in 1914 in the Elbe river Federica Maria Sessa,1 Luca Cianti,2 Mitten Crab; invasive species; official control; (Hymanson et al., 1999). More recently, risks and critical issues. Nicola Brogelli,1 Lara Tinacci,3 3 alternatives routes for the introduction of the Alessandra Guidi species within the European borders has Contributions: The authors contributed equally. 1Food Chain Studio associato, Firenze; been hypothesized as consequence of its Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no 2Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Firenze; import for food purpose generally related to conflict of interest. 3Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Asian cuisine specialties (Robbins, et al., Università di Pisa, Italy 2003). Funding: none. Indeed, in East and South-East Asia E. sinensis is recognized as one of the most Received for publication: 18 December 2019. commercially valuable and it is Revision received: 6 March 2020. Abstract presented on the market in various forms Accepted for publication: 30 March 2020. Eriocheir sinensis, Chinese Crab or (alive, fresh or frozen) for the preparation of This work is licensed under a Creative is a catadromous traditional delicacies such as soup or cold Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 species belonging to the Varunidae family, cuts (Clark et al., 2009; Hoogenboom et al., International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). native to river and estuarine areas of North 2015). The crab gonads are particularly and South East China and Korea. At appreciated and included within the highest- ©Copyright: the Author(s), 2020 European level, E. sinensis is widespread in class dishes proposed in China, Japan and onlyLicensee PAGEPress, Italy the main water basins of Central and Singapore (Clark, 2011). Italian Journal of Food Safety 2020; 9:8774 Northern Europe and, since 2016, it has been As regard as Mediterranean Sea area, E. doi:10.4081/ijfs.2020.8774 included in the list of invasive species sinensis first appearance was recorded in important for the European Union and 1959 near Narbonne, further reports were subjected to confinement and eradication lost until early 2000s when a specimenuse was restoration of a batch of alive E. sinensis measures which include the prohibition of captured in the lagoon of Venice (Mizzan, crabs, conducted in 2018, by the UFS collection, transit and placing on the market 2005). Since then, E. sinensis has been (Functional Simple Unit) veterinary public of live specimens (Regulation (EC) N° periodically sighted within this area until health and food safety of the ASL Toscana 1143/2014). The Chinese Crab can represent 2014 (Fiorin, et al., 2013; Bettison and Centro aimed at bringing to the attention a significant danger for the local ecosystem Comisso, 2015). criticalities correlated to the introduction of and for the native biota as well as E. sinensis arouse specific attention alien invasive species on the National contributing to the appearance of internationally being listed within the first market. Particularly the study focused on hydrogeological instability phenomena 100 alien species with the highest invasive both the environmental impact and possible resulting from the intense excavation and potential due to its extreme euryhalinity, as health concerns related to the consumption erosion of the riverbanks. catadromous species, which allows the crab of an unauthorized and unchecked product. The first finding of 5 kg of live survival in both fresh and marine waters and specimens of Eriocheir sinensis was the high reproductive index and the adults recorded in the official control by the UFS burrowing habit which produces degradation (Functional Simple Unit) veterinary public and erosion of water channels and the banks Materials and Methods health and food safety of the ASL Toscana of waterways (Bentley, 2011; DAISIE, 2015; Centro at an ethnic catering establishment.Non-commercialDittel and Epifanio, 2009). In December 2018, two following The specimens were subjected to seizure, Under the European legislation the seizures were conducted by the UFS photographed, identified morphologically, prevention and management of the veterinary public health and food safety of and subjected to euthanasia and destruction introduction and spread of invasive alien the ASL Toscana Centro towards two in accordance with the European species is ruled by the Regulation (EC) N° different ethnic catering establishments requirements for welfare and management of 1143/2014 which specifically prohibits, within Florence province; two batches of by-products. within the Union, the import, transit, feeding 5kg and 10kg of live crabs were blocked. From the sanitary point of view, the selling and free release in the environment The crabs were kept in their original dangers associated with the consumption of of alive specimens belonging to ascertained polystyrene packaging and stored at around this crab are mainly biological and chemical alien invasive species listed in periodically 0-4°C in accordance with their ascertained therefore, risk communication is updated lists. In this respect, a dedicated tolerance to low temperature (DAISIE, fundamental, not only at the level of the Regulation (EU Execution Regulation No. 2016; competent authorities in the sector, but also 2016/1141) has been enacted and within the http://www.fao.org/tempref/FI/DOCUMEN for the food business operators. list currently in force E. sinensis is included. T/aquaculture/CulturedSpecies/file/en/en_ch Therefore, Chinese Mitten Crab is allowed ineserivercrab.htm) in order to maintain a for import only as fresh or frozen product low specimen metabolism and a low Introduction while even the transport of alive specimen is mortality rate during the storage. During the Eriocheir sinensis, is a crab belonging to forbidden. control activity a representative number of the Varunidae family commonly known as Thus, the present study, following a specimens included in each of the batches,

[Italian Journal of Food Safety 2020; 9:8774] [page 137] Article selected according to the size and sex, were major criticalities in the products traceability photographed and the specific Discussion management, still persisting especially in the morphological parameters were compared catering sector owned by Asian Food with the reference tables to confirm the Specimens identification Business Operators (FBO) as previously species. Furthermore, all the data reported on The specimens examined had medium highlighted in several studies on seafood the commercial documents were recorded. In dimensions in line with the commercial sizes traceability at ethnic retailers, distributed particular all the data related to commercial reported in bibliography although the within Italian borders (D’Amico et al., 2014; and scientific designation, products origin possibility of adult subjects reaching a width Guidi et al., 2010). and fishing area, storage conditions and sales of 10 cm is also reported (Czerniejewski, et The analysis of the data collected destination were registered. At the end of the al., 2003). pointed out, for one of the two batches, a activities related to the seizure all the The sexual dimorphism highlighted with product corresponding to a FAO area (27.IV, were subjected to euthanasia in regard to the dark brown hairs around the subarea C) previously reported as an open respect of animal welfare. claws is in agreement with the reference data fishing area for E. sinensis (Hoogenboom et reported in bibliography within the species al., 2015). In this case, despite the identification cards. In particular, in our traceability of the product was complete and study the presence of more developed and the fishing area admitted for the species Results longer claws hair observed in male catching, the detention of the alive specimens is in agreement with Rudnick et specimens clearly arose in violation of the Specimens identification al., 2000 description. current European legislation on the control As regard as the morphological analysis of alien species (Regulation (EC) N° the specimens photographed presented a 1143/2014; Commission Implementing Traceability and health concerns Regulation (EU) 2016/1141). squared, convex carapace with the typical related to the eventual products con- dark green color tending to gray (Figures 1 Furthermore, the wording not intended sumption and 2).The average carapace width was 5-7 for human consumption reported on the The ASL control activity has highlighted batch label in question, assumes that the cm, with the presence of the 4 lateral spines only on both sides of which the last one being less developed in the cranio-caudal direction (Figure 1). The limbs appeared well developed and almost twice longer than the use carapace. In the infraorbital region, a V- shaped notch was present (Figure 1). The abdomen presented a specific sexual related shape with a typical funnel drawing cavity well evident in all the male specimens (Figure 3). Typical claws with sleeves carrying dark brown hair were highlighted in both sexes although less developed in the female specimens (Figures 3 and 4). The comparison of the characteristics just described with the reference parameters reported in the bibliography (http://www.issg.org/database, https://www.fws.gov, Veilleux and De Lafontaine 2007) confirmed for all the specimens the belonging to E. sinensis species. Non-commercial Figure 1. Dorsal view showing the frontal Figure 3. Ventral view of a male (above) Products traceability and labelling notch and four lateral spines. and female (below). The analysis of the accompanying documentation was carried out only on the second of the two batches subject to seizure as no traceability elements could be found for the first one. The second batch was labelled with the commercial designation Hairy crab and the scientific name E. sinensis accompanied by the additional notes not intended for human consumption and the product needs to be kept alive until the purchase. Furthermore, the specimens were declared belonging to FAO Area 27.IV sub area C (Ijsselmeer Bay, Holland). Figure 4. Male Eriocheir sinensis showing Figure 2. Frontal view of notch. hairy claws.

[page 138] [Italian Journal of Food Safety 2020; 9:8774] Article specimens had not been subjected to the 2013/711) on the reduction of the presence J.T. In the wrong place- Alien marine minimum checks for the hygienic-sanitary of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feed and : distribuition Biology and guarantee of the product with a real risk for foodstuffs in which, in considerandum 6, it impacts. Springer Netherlands, pp.107- the health of the exposed consumers. is suggested to subject E. sinensis to 27. In this respect according to current reinforced monitoring as far as it concerns Bettison N, Comisso G, 2015. First record of scientific data, E. sinensis is associated to the residues of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir both biological and chemicals hazards. With PCBs, but above all, in Article 2 it is sinensis) in the Lagoon of Marano and regard to biological hazards, several studies specified that the monitoring should be Grado (Northern Adriatic Sea). Annales confirmed the crab as intermediate host of carried out on the muscle of the appendices Series Historia Naturalis 25:29-34). Paragonimus westermani a plathelminthes (separately); on brown meat (separately); on Clark PF, 2011. The Commercial trematode agent of paragonimiasis (Clark, the total product (using a calculation that exploitation of the Chinese Mitten Crab 2011; Stentiford, 2005; Veldhuizen, 2001). takes into account the levels detected in the Eriocheir sinensis in the river Tames, The risk of zoonoses is mainly related to the appendix and brown meat muscle and their London: Damned if we don’t and consumption of raw or undercooked meat relative proportion). The Recommendation damned if we do. Part II. In Galil B.S, containing the metacercarias (Marquardt and therefore emphasizes the importance of Clark P.F., Carlton J.T. In the wrong Demaree, 1985), which represents the organic contamination in this species and place- Alien marine crustaceans: infective stage. However, for the crab that, referring to the reported studies, distribuition Biology and impacts. infection the presence on the territory of contaminant levels should also be detected SpringerScience+Business media B.V gasteropods belonging to the Thiaridae in brown meats. 2011. family that act as first intermediate host is Considering that, in relation to Asian Clark PF, 2011. The Commercial necessary culinary traditions, these portions take on exploitation of the Chinese Mitten Crab (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/paragonimiasis/i greater value than white meat, the associated Eriocheir sinensis in the river Tames, ndex.html). Therefore, given the absence of risk factor is further increased, especially for London: Damned if we don’t and such gastropods on the European territory the most sensitive population categories such damned if we do. Part II in Galil B.S, (Bentley, 2011), the risk of contracting the as pregnant women and children. onlyClark P.F., Carlton J.T. In the wrong parasitosis by consuming specimens fished place- Alien marine crustaceans: in the area identified for one of the batches distribution Biology and impacts. is negligible, however it is no ensured for the Springer Netherlands, pp. 537-80. other one. About chemical hazards E. Conclusions Clark PF, Mortimer DN, Law RJ, Averns sinensis has been linked to biomagnification use JM, Cohen BA, Wood D, Rose MD, The study highlighted persistent gaps in and bioaccumulation phenomena along the Fernandes AR, Rainbow PS, 2009. the application of traceability measures by food chain of organic contaminants and Dioxin and PCB contamination in some FBOs, particularly within ethnic heavy metals such as Mercury, Cadmium, Chinese mitten crabs: human catering sector, which favored the entry of a Lead, Arsenic, Dioxins and PCBs (Dittel and consumption as a control mechanism for highly invasive alien species within the Epifanio, 2009; Clark et al., 2009). an invasive species. Environ Sci Italian territory where the sightings are still In this regard, specific samplings on the Technol 43:1624-9. sporadic and limited to some catching areas. appendicles muscular tissue (white meat) Commission Implementing Regulation (Eu) Through two sequentially implemented and on hepatopancreas and gonads (brown 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a seizures and the identification of the meat) in E. sinensis specimens fished in the list of invasive alien species of Union geographical origin of the products, a Thames and in the Ijsslemeer bay have been concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No probable chemical risk emerged that could conducted to evaluate levels of 1143/2014 of the European Parliament be correlated to the presence of contamination from dioxins and PCBs and of the Council. Available from: environmental contaminants of anthropic (Clark et al., 2009; Hoogenboom 2015). In https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- origin (dioxins and PCBs) inside the both studies, concentrations of PCBs and content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32 products subjected to detention. dioxins well above the Tolerable Daily 016R1141&from=IT A future investigation could be oriented Intake (TDI) established by European Food Commission Recommendation of 3 Non-commercialto the identification of the commercial Safety Authority (EFSA) and Scientific december 2013 on the reduction of the channels that allowed the entry of such Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in products within the Italian territory. were confirmed for specimens of Dutch feed and food, (2013/711/EU). Available Finally, in a long-term perspective, the origin online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- study clearly revealed the need to promote (https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epd content/en/txt/html/?uri=celex:32013h0 active information and training with Asian f/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5333; SACN, 2004). 711&from=it food business operators in order to improve This considered, assuming that the batches Council regulation (EC) 1143/2014 Of the their awareness of the matter, of food subjected to seizure had not undergone European Parliament and Of The traceability, responsibility and compliance to adequate controls, the chemical risk Council of 22 October 2014 on the the European legislation to consumers and associated with their consumption cannot be prevention and management of the environment protection. excluded. Furthermore, from the studies of introduction and spread of invasive alien Clark et al., 2009 and Hoogenboom et species. Available from: https://eur- al.2015 the highest concentration of both lex.europa.eu/legal-cotent/EN/TXT/PD contaminants is detectable in gonads and F/?uri=CELEX:32014R1143&from=IT hepatopancreas. References Czerniejewski P, Filipiak J, Radziejewska T, Following these studies, the European Bentley M, 2011. The Global spread of the 2003. Body weight and morphometry of Commission issued a recommendation on 3 Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir sinensis, the chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir December 2013 (Recommendation EU No. Part II. In Galil B.S, Clark P.F., Carlton sinensis H. Milne-Edwards, 1983) in the

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Non-commercial

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