Copper-bottomed guarantee for safe shellfish in restaurants

[Guest guest]

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/09/10/copper.bottomed.guarantee.safe.shell\

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Copper-bottomed guarantee for safe shellfish in restaurants

Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 08:57 in Biology & Nature

Putting brass where your money is could be a guarantee of safety according to

researchers looking at the dangers of eating raw fish and shellfish in seafood

restaurants, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society

for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity

College, Dublin. The Asian diet traditionally includes lots of raw fish and

shellfish, and diners and restaurateurs are aware of the risks of food poisoning

posed by contaminating bacteria. In Korea between 2003 and 2006 around 12% of

food poisoning cases were due to a type of bacteria called Vibrio, whose family

includes the microbe that causes cholera. Now Korean scientists have come up

with a simple and effective way of making sure that shellfish is safe – put a

brass plate at the bottom of the fish tank.

" We showed that copper ions diffuse out from a brass plate into a fish tank

filled with seawater, and within 40 hours the copper killed 99.99% of the Vibrio

food poisoning bacteria contaminating the living fish and shellfish, " says Dr

Jeong-Weon Huh from the Department of Health Research, at Gyeonggi-do Institute

of Health and Environment, Republic of Korea.

The copper is absorbed by the bacteria, causing them to die and fall off the

gills and skin of the fish. Vibrio are even flushed from the internal organs of

the fresh fish, sinking to the bottom of the tank. The remaining copper ions are

absorbed from the seawater in the tank by sand and polyester filters, leaving

safe, clean fish ready to be eaten by restaurant diners.

" By being able to remove the copper ions, we can prevent people from consuming

excess copper themselves, but let them safely enjoy any kind of fish, either raw

or cooked, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Koreans have claimed for a long time that food served in a traditional bowl

called a bangzza is safer to eat. Now the food researchers have proved the

science behind the myth. The 78% copper and 22% tin mixture used to make the

traditional bangzza kitchenware allows enough copper ions to escape into the

food that pathogenic microbes are rendered harmless.

In countries with many people suffering from poor sanitation and hygiene, where

cholera and other Vibrio bacteria are rife, it seems that this traditional

cookware may be a lifesaver.

" We highly recommend that brass is used in restaurant fish tanks for consumer's

safety. More people will be able to safely enjoy seafood, and the marine dealers

will have a stable income, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Source: Society for General Microbiology

[Guest guest]

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/09/10/copper.bottomed.guarantee.safe.shell\

fish.restaurants

Copper-bottomed guarantee for safe shellfish in restaurants

Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 08:57 in Biology & Nature

Putting brass where your money is could be a guarantee of safety according to

researchers looking at the dangers of eating raw fish and shellfish in seafood

restaurants, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society

for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity

College, Dublin. The Asian diet traditionally includes lots of raw fish and

shellfish, and diners and restaurateurs are aware of the risks of food poisoning

posed by contaminating bacteria. In Korea between 2003 and 2006 around 12% of

food poisoning cases were due to a type of bacteria called Vibrio, whose family

includes the microbe that causes cholera. Now Korean scientists have come up

with a simple and effective way of making sure that shellfish is safe – put a

brass plate at the bottom of the fish tank.

" We showed that copper ions diffuse out from a brass plate into a fish tank

filled with seawater, and within 40 hours the copper killed 99.99% of the Vibrio

food poisoning bacteria contaminating the living fish and shellfish, " says Dr

Jeong-Weon Huh from the Department of Health Research, at Gyeonggi-do Institute

of Health and Environment, Republic of Korea.

The copper is absorbed by the bacteria, causing them to die and fall off the

gills and skin of the fish. Vibrio are even flushed from the internal organs of

the fresh fish, sinking to the bottom of the tank. The remaining copper ions are

absorbed from the seawater in the tank by sand and polyester filters, leaving

safe, clean fish ready to be eaten by restaurant diners.

" By being able to remove the copper ions, we can prevent people from consuming

excess copper themselves, but let them safely enjoy any kind of fish, either raw

or cooked, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Koreans have claimed for a long time that food served in a traditional bowl

called a bangzza is safer to eat. Now the food researchers have proved the

science behind the myth. The 78% copper and 22% tin mixture used to make the

traditional bangzza kitchenware allows enough copper ions to escape into the

food that pathogenic microbes are rendered harmless.

In countries with many people suffering from poor sanitation and hygiene, where

cholera and other Vibrio bacteria are rife, it seems that this traditional

cookware may be a lifesaver.

" We highly recommend that brass is used in restaurant fish tanks for consumer's

safety. More people will be able to safely enjoy seafood, and the marine dealers

will have a stable income, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Source: Society for General Microbiology

[Guest guest]

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/09/10/copper.bottomed.guarantee.safe.shell\

fish.restaurants

Copper-bottomed guarantee for safe shellfish in restaurants

Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 08:57 in Biology & Nature

Putting brass where your money is could be a guarantee of safety according to

researchers looking at the dangers of eating raw fish and shellfish in seafood

restaurants, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society

for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity

College, Dublin. The Asian diet traditionally includes lots of raw fish and

shellfish, and diners and restaurateurs are aware of the risks of food poisoning

posed by contaminating bacteria. In Korea between 2003 and 2006 around 12% of

food poisoning cases were due to a type of bacteria called Vibrio, whose family

includes the microbe that causes cholera. Now Korean scientists have come up

with a simple and effective way of making sure that shellfish is safe – put a

brass plate at the bottom of the fish tank.

" We showed that copper ions diffuse out from a brass plate into a fish tank

filled with seawater, and within 40 hours the copper killed 99.99% of the Vibrio

food poisoning bacteria contaminating the living fish and shellfish, " says Dr

Jeong-Weon Huh from the Department of Health Research, at Gyeonggi-do Institute

of Health and Environment, Republic of Korea.

The copper is absorbed by the bacteria, causing them to die and fall off the

gills and skin of the fish. Vibrio are even flushed from the internal organs of

the fresh fish, sinking to the bottom of the tank. The remaining copper ions are

absorbed from the seawater in the tank by sand and polyester filters, leaving

safe, clean fish ready to be eaten by restaurant diners.

" By being able to remove the copper ions, we can prevent people from consuming

excess copper themselves, but let them safely enjoy any kind of fish, either raw

or cooked, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Koreans have claimed for a long time that food served in a traditional bowl

called a bangzza is safer to eat. Now the food researchers have proved the

science behind the myth. The 78% copper and 22% tin mixture used to make the

traditional bangzza kitchenware allows enough copper ions to escape into the

food that pathogenic microbes are rendered harmless.

In countries with many people suffering from poor sanitation and hygiene, where

cholera and other Vibrio bacteria are rife, it seems that this traditional

cookware may be a lifesaver.

" We highly recommend that brass is used in restaurant fish tanks for consumer's

safety. More people will be able to safely enjoy seafood, and the marine dealers

will have a stable income, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Source: Society for General Microbiology

[Guest guest]

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/09/10/copper.bottomed.guarantee.safe.shell\

fish.restaurants

Copper-bottomed guarantee for safe shellfish in restaurants

Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 08:57 in Biology & Nature

Putting brass where your money is could be a guarantee of safety according to

researchers looking at the dangers of eating raw fish and shellfish in seafood

restaurants, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society

for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity

College, Dublin. The Asian diet traditionally includes lots of raw fish and

shellfish, and diners and restaurateurs are aware of the risks of food poisoning

posed by contaminating bacteria. In Korea between 2003 and 2006 around 12% of

food poisoning cases were due to a type of bacteria called Vibrio, whose family

includes the microbe that causes cholera. Now Korean scientists have come up

with a simple and effective way of making sure that shellfish is safe – put a

brass plate at the bottom of the fish tank.

" We showed that copper ions diffuse out from a brass plate into a fish tank

filled with seawater, and within 40 hours the copper killed 99.99% of the Vibrio

food poisoning bacteria contaminating the living fish and shellfish, " says Dr

Jeong-Weon Huh from the Department of Health Research, at Gyeonggi-do Institute

of Health and Environment, Republic of Korea.

The copper is absorbed by the bacteria, causing them to die and fall off the

gills and skin of the fish. Vibrio are even flushed from the internal organs of

the fresh fish, sinking to the bottom of the tank. The remaining copper ions are

absorbed from the seawater in the tank by sand and polyester filters, leaving

safe, clean fish ready to be eaten by restaurant diners.

" By being able to remove the copper ions, we can prevent people from consuming

excess copper themselves, but let them safely enjoy any kind of fish, either raw

or cooked, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Koreans have claimed for a long time that food served in a traditional bowl

called a bangzza is safer to eat. Now the food researchers have proved the

science behind the myth. The 78% copper and 22% tin mixture used to make the

traditional bangzza kitchenware allows enough copper ions to escape into the

food that pathogenic microbes are rendered harmless.

In countries with many people suffering from poor sanitation and hygiene, where

cholera and other Vibrio bacteria are rife, it seems that this traditional

cookware may be a lifesaver.

" We highly recommend that brass is used in restaurant fish tanks for consumer's

safety. More people will be able to safely enjoy seafood, and the marine dealers

will have a stable income, " says Dr Jeong-Weon Huh.

Source: Society for General Microbiology