Xyrex® Clarifies Ingredient Safety in PrawnFresh™
Xyrex® is at the forefront of revolutionising the fishing, seafood processing, and aquaculture industries with sulphite-free seafood technologies.
Recent discussions have raised concerns about the ingredients utilized in PrawnFresh™, a Specially Formulated Treatment by Xyrex® designed to enhance the quality, maintain organoleptic properties, and extend the shelf-life of seafood.
Clearing the Confusion
Managing Director Gerry McGuire aims to clarify the misunderstanding surrounding one of the main ingredients in PrawnFresh™, 4-Hexylresorcinol (E586). It has been mistakenly linked to Resorcinol, a distinct compound.
“4-Hexylresorcinol is NOT Resorcinol!” insists Gerry McGuire.
“This confusion has been well documented by SIPA (Seafood Importers & Processors Alliance). However, some processors and importers continue to avoid seafood treated with preservatives containing 4-Hexylresorcinol, due to the erroneous belief that it is prohibited by the EU and poses health risks.”
“This is not the case, as 4-Hexylresorcinol is safe when used according to instructions for both processors and consumers. It offers several advantages over sulphite-based treatments.”
“In fact, 4-Hexylresorcinol is authorized in the EU for use on fresh, frozen, and deep-frozen crustaceans, adhering to manufacturers’ suggested concentrations that align with EU permitted residue levels of approximately 1-2 ppm in the edible portion. It is not a toxicological concern,” concludes Gerry.
Safety Reaffirmed
The SIPA report* makes the following points:
- 4-Hexylresorcinol (E586) is a permitted additive in the EU, and its safety is not under review.
- It is permitted in the EU for use on fresh, frozen, or deep-frozen crustaceans.
- Its safety was reaffirmed by an EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) Scientific Opinion in 2014.
Addressing Misconceptions in France
Some crustacean processors in France are advised to reject Nephrops and shrimps treated with Xyrex PrawnFresh due to the presence of 4-hexylresorcinol (E586). These processors are misled into believing that the additive possesses endocrine-disrupting properties and is currently under investigation by The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
The confusion primarily stems from ANSES linking resorcinol—associated with endocrine disruption—to 4-hexylresorcinol. Resorcinol is explicitly not approved as an additive in the EU; therefore, ANSES’s proposal should not alarm anyone in the seafood sector. Unfortunately, the dossier erroneously listed resorcinol as a legal additive for preventing blackspot in crustaceans, contributing to the misunderstanding.
Health Benefits of 4-Hexylresorcinol
In the UK and many EU member states, treatment with E586 is preferred over sulphites/metabisulphites due to the numerous health and safety benefits for both producers and consumers. This treatment reduces the risk of staff illness related to processing with sodium metabisulphite, providing consumers with an option to enjoy seafood without health hazards associated with sulphite treatments.
This structure utilizes appropriate HTML tags for clear organization and easy integration into WordPress, ensuring the article’s readability and accessibility.
