A decade of sulphite control in Serbian meat industry and the effect of HACCP

Abstract

In total 7351 meat preparations and fresh processed meat products were analysed from 555 different Serbian meat producers over a 10-year period, 4.5 years before and 5.5 years after mandatory Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) implementation. From the obtained results, it could be concluded that HACCP has contributed to a better alignment of practices with the legal provisions. The share of non-compliant samples dropped from 18.6% before HACCP to 8.3% after its mandatory implementation. Average sulphite concentrations for all categories of meat preparations and fresh processed meat products decreased by 43%, declining from 33.6 to 19.3 mg kg. Typical misuse and frequent abuse of sulphites was independent of a season. Application of HACCP principles in the Serbian meat industry raised awareness about the misuse of sulphites and contributed to a better control, minimising exposure to sulphites.

What is Meat in Serbia?

“…The misuse and abuse of sulfites were common regardless of the season. HACCP implementation in the Serbian meat industry brought attention to the misuse of sulfites, leading to better control and minimization of sulfite exposure (Tomasevic et al, 2018). Also, over thirteen years, 20,106 cured meat product samples were examined from 268 different Serbian meat processing plants, covering 7.5 years before and 5.5 years after mandatory HACCP implementation.…”

Sulfites in meat: Occurrence, activity, toxicity, regulation, and detection. A comprehensive review

“…A percentage equal to 12.59% of these samples contained sulfites above the MPLs. The highest percentage of meat products resulted as noncompliant for sulfites presence was registered for kebab (Korićanac et al, 2017; Tomasevic et al, 2018).…”

“…Due to the possible harmful consequences deriving from ingestion of sulfites, monitoring and surveillance of these additives are extensively recommended by WHO, FAO, EFSA, FSANZ, FDA, and other governmental authorities, worldwide, which turned their attention especially on meat products, because several cases of abuses and unlawful usage were reported (Carrabs et al., 2017; Timbo, Koehler, Wolyniak, & Klontz, 2010; Tomasevic et al., 2018).…”