Assessment of sampling methods about level of mercury in fish

Mercury (Hg) seriously affects some sensitive subgroups of population and the detection of Hg content in fish and fishery products is one of the most important activities aimed at controlling their safety. In fact, Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 set maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs and Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 laid down the methods of sampling and analysis for their control in foodstuffs. As Hg content highly varies among different fish species depending on a variety of factors and even among members of the same population, sampling methods play a crucial role in the accuracy, precision and statistical significance of Hg determination. By the use of an analysis method independent probabilistic model, based on the axioms of Kolmogorov’s probability theory, this paper aims to assess the relationship between sampling methods set by Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 and the probability to detect compliant or non-compliant outcomes of Hg in fish.