Analyzing for Histamine in Seafood

Certain bacteria naturally occurring in the aquatic environment and marine fish produce histidine decarboxylase enzymes during their growth. The enzymes may react with free histidine, a naturally occurring amino acid in fish muscle, to form histamine and other biogenic amines, generally as a result of time and temperature abuse of harvested fish. Dietary consumption of fish with elevated histamine levels can have an adverse effect on humans.

Everyone is susceptible to histamine poisoning. Symptom…