From aquaculture production to consumption: freshness, safety, traceability and authentication, the four pillars of quality

• Main Author: Freitas, Jorge
• Publication Date: 2020
• Other Authors: Vaz-Pires, Paulo, Câmara, José S.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/4693
• topic: Seafood; Freshness; Safety; Traceability; Authenticity; Aquaculture; .; Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia; Centro de Química da Madeira

Farmed aquatic products are among the most widely traded commodities and one of the sectors with the fastest growth in the last years. However, aquaculture is still affected by negative connotations in comparison with other agroindustry sectors. Markets, consumer preferences and concerns about food safety and sustainability are influencing the growth of the sector and are forcing the implementation of quality management systems. Modern management systems help to minimize the environmental impacts and the distribution of unsafe or poor-quality products, thereby reducing the potential for bad image, liability and recalls. This article presents a compre hensive overview of the status, relevance, and impact of the quality management systems in the development of marine aquaculture, with the focus on four of the most important criteria associated with these systems: freshness, safety, traceability, and authenticity.