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Escolar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gempylidae
Genus: Lepidocybium
Gill, 1862
Species: L. Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates The Actinopterygii (the plural form of Actinopterygius) comprise the class of the ray-finned fishes. The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all bony Fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. Snake mackerel are Perciform fishes in the family Gempylidae. Theodore Nicholas Gill ( March 21, 1837 – September 25, 1914) was an American Ichthyologist, Mammalogist, flavobrunneum
Binomial name
Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
(Smith, 1843)

The escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum, is a snake mackerel, the only species in the genus Lepidocybium. Snake mackerel are Perciform fishes in the family Gempylidae. It is found in deep (200–885 m) tropical and temperate waters around the world.

Contents

Biology

The escolar is dark brown in colour, growing darker with age until it is quite black. It is a fast-swimming fish with a prominent lateral keel and multiple finlets. The Anatomy of Fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of Water, which is much denser than air holds a relatively small amount of dissolved It grows up to 2 m in length.

Consumption

Escolar is consumed in several European and Asian countries, as well as in the USA, sometimes raw as sushi or sashimi. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables Sashimi ( IPA: /'saɕimi/ 刺身 is a Japanese delicacy primarily consisting of very fresh raw Seafood, sliced into thin pieces about 2 It may be sold as "white tuna" - a term also used for the albacore - or as "super white tuna" to distinguish it from the albacore. The albacore, Thunnus alalunga, is a type of Tuna in the family Scombridae. [1] Escolar is also sold misleadingly as "butterfish", "oilfish" and "Hawaiian butter fish"; in Hawaii and Fiji, it is known as walu. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Like oilfish, a related species with similar consumption consequences, escolar is also sometimes deceptively sold under the name of an entirely different species of fish, most commonly "codfish" or "orange roughy". The oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, is a Snake mackerel, the only species in the genus Ruvettus.

Effects of consumption

Like its relative the oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus), it cannot metabolize the wax esters (Gempylotoxin) naturally found in its diet, which accumulates to give an oil content in the muscle meat of 18–21%. The oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, is a Snake mackerel, the only species in the genus Ruvettus. An Ester, found in some Fish such as Orange roughy, Oilfish, Escolar, Black oreo, Smooth oreo and other fish primarily These wax esters may rapidly cause gastrointestinal symptoms following consumption; however, these effects are usually short lived. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least

The gastrointestinal symptoms, called "keriorrhoea", caused by these wax esters may include oily orange diarrhea, discharge, or leakage from the rectum that may smell of mineral oil. In Medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences) is frequent loose or liquid Bowel movements Acute diarrhea Mineral oil or liquid Petroleum is a By-product in the Distillation of Petroleum to produce Gasoline and other petroleum The discharge can stain clothing and occur without warning 30 minutes to 36 hours after consuming the fish. The oil may pool in the rectum and cause frequent urges for bowel movements due to its lubricant qualities and may be accidentally discharged by the passing of gas. Flatulence is the production of a mixture of gases in the digestive tract of Mammals that are byproducts of the digestion process Symptoms may occur over a period of one or more days. Other symptoms may include stomach cramps, loose bowel movements, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

To minimize the risk of symptoms, strict control of portion size is recommended as well as preparation methods that remove some of the oil (e. g. grilling). Portions should be no greater than 6 ounces.

Legislation

For these reasons, escolar has been banned from consumption in Japan since 1977, as the Japanese government considers it toxic. [2][3] It has also been banned in Italy. [4] In 1999, the Swedish and Danish National Food Administrations informed fish trade associations and fish importing companies about the problems escolar and related fish could cause if not prepared properly and issued recommendations.

In early 2007 after a public outcry and receiving consumer complaints about mislabeled fish and conducting an investigation, the Hong Kong government's Centre for Food Safety recommended that escolar not be used for catering purposes, advised clear labeling and identification of fish species before sale, purchase of fish from reliable sources, and recommended that consumers become aware of the possible health effects of consumption of escolar, oilfish, and related species. The Hong Kong government has established a working group comprised of members of the academia, trade and consumer group to prepare guidelines for assisting the trade and consumers in identifying relevant species of fish.

In the United States, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, after receiving complaints about diarrhea associated with escolar consumption, issued a bulletin recommending against import of the fish in the early 1990s. However, the FDA backed away from this recommendation and withdrew the bulletin several years later after deciding the fish was nontoxic and nonlethal. Currently, the FDA informally recommends that "Escolar should not be marketed in interstate commerce. "[5]

In mid-2007, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, after investigating cases of diarrhea caused by mislabeled fish, decided not to ban escolar or oilfish but instead issued a fact sheet noting the potential adverse effects of consumption and recommending that consumers speak with their retailer, verify fish species and consume the fish in small portion size using preparation methods that reduce oil content.

References

General

Inline

  1. ^ * Miami New Times by Jen Karetnick February 2001 "The Great White Tuna"
  2. ^ * Marian Burros, New York Times, March 10, 1999, "A Fish Puts Chefs in a Quandary"
  3. ^ * European Food Safety Authority, "Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on a request from the Commission related to the toxicity of fishery products belonging to the family of Gempylidae" (August 2004)
  4. ^ * European Food Safety Authority, "Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on a request from the Commission related to the toxicity of fishery products belonging to the family of Gempylidae" (August 2004)
  5. ^ * U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, April 2006, "Managing Food Safety:A Manual for the Voluntary Use of HACCP Principles for Operators of Food Service and Retail Establishments, Annex 2 (Seafood References)"
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