What are the glass-like crystals sometimes present in canned fish?
On occasion small crystals having some resemblance to pieces of broken glass may be found in canned fishery products. They are colourless, transparent and tasteless. The size varies; sometimes they are so small as to impart only slight “grittiness” to the product, whereas sometimes several crystals up to 0.25" (6 mm) long may be found.
Small struvite crystals, commonly mistaken for pieces of broken glass, are sometimes found in canned fishery products. These naturally occurring particles of magnesium ammonium phosphate are colourless, transparent and tasteless.
Such crystals have been frequently analysed and invariably have been identified as the chemical substance magnesium ammonium phosphate.
These crystals will dissolve in vinegar, heated on the stovetop. This will prove the crystals are not glass.
These crystals are harmless; in fact, the chemical substances in the crystals are necessary in one form or another for normal health. The crystals have about the same hardness as a crystal of ordinary salt; hence they will not injure the enamel of healthy teeth. They are practically insoluble in the saliva of the mouth, but should they be swallowed, no harm will result as they dissolve in the digestive juices of the stomach.
The separate chemical substances capable of uniting to form crystals of magnesium ammonium phosphate are always present in the bodies of fishes, animals, and man, but it is only under certain conditions that these substances unite to form crystals. Crystals of magnesium ammonium phosphate are found as the naturally occurring mineral “struvite”, and the same substance has also been found in the healthy human body in the tartar film on teeth and elsewhere.
Their crystalline structure renders them sufficiently friable to be readily crushed between the fingernail and a hard surface without scratching the fingernail. They will not actually scratch the surface of an aluminum cooking utensil or copper coin, although they may make a mark on the oxidized surface layer of the metal. Polishing the mark with a cloth will disclose that no actual scratching of the metal has taken place, whereas glass easily scratches these two metals. A convincing test is to place a suspected crystal in a teaspoon, then add vinegar, and heat by means of a match, candle, or cigarette lighter until the acid is hot. The crystals will dissolve, whereas a fragment of glass will not dissolve.
In response to consumer awareness of recent “chemicals of concern”, specifically, Bisphenol-A (BPA), with regard to its use in the manufacturing of interior coatings of metal food containers and metal jar lids…
Whiting, Maine – Look’s Gourmet Food Company is a manufacturer of canned food consumer products, and is aware of the recent concerns that have been brought to the attention of consumers and retailers regarding certain chemicals used in the production of the protective coatings in both metal food containers and metal lids on glass jars.
Bisphenol-A is a chemical used in the production of the coating applied to the interior of food-grade metal containers and lids, the purpose of which is to protect the food from oxidation from direct contact with the metal container or lid. This protective coating has been the approved coating for use in food packaging for several decades, not only by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but also by consumer food safety authorities around the globe. As a food manufacturer complying with the authoritative bodies under which we are regulated, it is our position that until it is proven otherwise by independent scientific data, that the container products we utilize are safe for the packaging of consumer food products.
Look’s Gourmet Food Company has taken a proactive position with the container and chemical industries for data to either further validate the current products’ safety or to work diligently to provide an affordable and equivilant alternative with regard to its purpose.
Recently in the State of Maine, the Senate and the House of Representatives responded to a proposed bill # LD2048, the intent of which was to address consumer concern about the use of certain chemicals of concern and their use in the manufacture of children’s products. The bill’s original intent was to empower the Department of Environmental Protection to identify of a list of potential chemicals of concern and to further determine the di minimus levels that have the potential to pose a threat to consumer health and safety, especially with regard to children. The bill was discovered to be over-reaching and threatened not only the manufacturers of children’s products, but most all consumer products and would put Maine’s consumer products manufacturers, distributors and retailers of these consumer products at potential economic risk.
Currently there are available on the market, alternatives for certain children’s and other consumer products which do not contain the identified chemicals of concern; however, in certain industries, such as canned foods and foods packaged in glass containers with metal lids, adequate availability of alternatives is to date limited and limited to specific uses within the food packaging industry. It was for this reason that amendments to the proposed bill in Maine were modified before passing LD2048 at the end of April 2008.
It is our commitment to maintain close communication with our suppliers and regulatory bodies with regard to this important issue and to maintain a transparent relationship with our customers, of whom their health and safety is our primary concern.
Contact Information:
Cynthia Fisher
VP of Marketing & Quality Assurance
Looks Gourmet Food Company, Inc.
1112 Cutler Road
Whiting, ME 04691
207-259-3341
Chowder is a heartier soup, generally made with potatoes and larger pieces of meat or seafood.
Bisque is soup with no potatoes. The meat or seafood is pureed and blended with a milk or cream base to give it a smooth, creamy consistency.
No. We do not use any artificial preservatives, flavor, or color enhancers in any of our products.
The production date is in Julian Calendar code and reads as follows:
Example: G0466
"G" is an internal code for the product, in this case, Clam Chowder.
The first three numbers "046" stands for the numerical day of the year, the 46th day (divide by 30 and you have the month – February).
The last number stands for the year of production, 2006.
Summary: this product, Clam Chowder was produced in the early part of February, 2006. We also include a "Best By" date in regular month/year format on each product.
