Cephalopod molluscs have not been implicated as the vehicle in any outbreaks of food-borne illness in Australia during the period 1995 to June 2002 (Appendix 2 for outbreak data) and were not the subject of any FSANZ-coordinated food recalls in the period 1990–2003.
Under the Imported Foods Inspection Scheme testing regime, failures were recorded for imported squid products for high mercury concentrations (one failure, at 1.6 mg/kg, in 98 tests) and the standard plate count (two failures in 19 tests) in the period 1998 to June 2003 (inclusive). No failures were recorded for enteric pathogens, Vibrios or shellfish toxins.
Factors affecting the presence of potential hazards along the production and processing supply chain for cephalopod molluscs have been considered at the point of harvest, during processing and at subsequent points in the distribution chain. The hazards are broadly summarised in Table 1.3 and discussed at greater length below.
