Bonamar, a U.S.-based seafood company, has joined forces with Gateway America to launch the first nationally marketed line of Extended Safety (ES) crabmeat products.
Gateway America, which is a Primus Labs Certified Food Safety facility, will be processing crab meat under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supervision. The processor will implement irradiation techniques which were approved by the FDA for shellfish in 2014 following a successful petition from the National Fisheries Institute. A food safety assessment used as the focal point for NFI’s petition found the process to have no adverse health risks and that it allowed for nutrients to stay intact.
Bonamar’s packaged crabmeat products will be exposed to low levels of radiation for a short time, up to the permitted dose of 6.0 kiloGray (kGy). This cold ionizing radiation process will make Bonamar’s crabmeat the “safest…in the industry, especially for those with severely impaired immune systems,” the company said.
“This new use of ionizing radiation will reduce, but not entirely eliminate, the number of pathogenic microorganisms – including Listeria, Vibrio and E. coli – in or on crustaceans,” according to a Bonamar 10 February press release.
The ionizing radiation process also offers ample benefit to wholesalers and retailers, said Bonamar, in that it extends the crabmeat’s shelf life.
“For many years, irradiation has been used safely and widely in the spice fruits, vegetable, meat, poultry, and seafood industries, including oysters and scallops. Therefore, Bonamar’s vision with this new project is to provide the safest and most wholesome seafood products in the market,” the company said.
“Bonamar is committed to continuous innovation and safety, through technology and strategic partnerships around the globe,” Bonamar President and CEO Argenis Contreras said. “Our goal is to constantly improve our products and continue to both innovate and stimulate the industry. 2017 will be a groundbreaking year for our company as we launch into new product categories and improve safety through new technologies, all by utilizing key partnerships. We are a company that’s committed to constantly evolving and bringing value to our customers.”
