On 21 December 2007, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a statement informing industry that XyRex brand products were not approved by the European Commission and that the use of these products was to be considered illegal (Seafish statement 8 January 2008).
Following this, urgent meetings took place between XyRex and the FSA and a further statement has now been issued concerning XyRex ‘Prawnfresh’ – the treatment for blackspot in Nephrops. The active ingredient of this product is 4-hexylresorcinol, which is an antioxidant (E586) and is approved in EU legislation for use in fresh, frozen and deep-frozen crustaceans. It may therefore be used for this purpose, in accordance with the additives legislation.
Further discussions are ongoing between XyRex and the FSA in relation to the whole range of their products and further information can be expected on these in due course.
