BIOFISH 300 SUL has been certified as AOAC® Perfomance TestedSM by the AOAC Research Institute under license number 031802 for the determination of sulphites (measured as SO2) in raw and boiled shrimp.

In crustacean industry, sulphite additives are used in order to prevent crustacean melanosis, and are applied after harvest and throughout the whole production process. However, sulphites are considered as allergens by the main international regulatory bodies on food safety because of their adverse health effects. The industry must control the sulphite concentration throughout the process to comply with the existing regulations in the use of additives and allergens.

The sulphite quantification method developed by BIOLAN, and now globally recognised, comprises an enzymatic biosensor built into the BIOFISH 300 SUL analyser, a compact analytical device that measures sulphite in crustaceans in an accurate, easy and fast way. BIOLAN biosensors combine the high specificity and selectivity of specific enzymes with easily detectable and quantifiable amperometric signals.

The certification study conducted by the AOAC Research Institute demonstrates that the BIOFISH 300 SUL biosensor is reliable and comparable to the official benchmark method currently in use, Monier-Williams method (OMA 990.28). This is the commonly used method for the determination of sulphite, although the analysis time is high and the accuracy is sometimes questioned because of false negatives. By contrast, the BIOLAN biosensor provides a simple, fast, safety and cost-efficient technique that enables the crustaceans industry to conduct its internal quality controls.

This certification is a further acknowledgement of the track record of BIOLAN, and a new evidence to date of the reliability of the technology developed. For BIOLAN this is the second AOAC certification after the obtained for BIOFISH 300 HIS (AOAC Perfomance TestedSM 051604) for histamine detection in raw tuna, raw mackerel, raw sardine, raw anchovy, cooked tuna, canned tuna in oil, canned tuna in water, canned mackerel in tomato sauce, canned pickled sardine (10-200 mg/kg) and canned, salted fish (30-150 mg/kg).

This BIOFISH 300 SUL method has achieved the certification for quantification ranges of 30-150 and 50-300 mg/kg for raw shrimp with head on, raw shrimp head removed and cooked shrimp. These ranges are consistent with current legislation.