"Detention Without Physical Examination of Ackees"

CFSAN has determined, after a study of all available scientific literature, that ackees contain two toxic substances when the fruit is either green or over-ripe. The seeds, ***pinkish membrane under the seeds, and outer rind*** of the fruit contain the toxic substances at all times. The substances are hypoglycin-A and hypoglycin-B which are dangerous natural toxins that have been known to cause poisoning and death. The ingestion of ***immature*** ackee is conclusively linked to "vomiting sickness" in Jamaica. The literature describes the onset of vomiting sickness as sudden. One or more periods of vomiting and quiescence ***can be*** followed by convulsions, coma, and death. ***In the unripened fruit, hypoglycin is located throughout the fruit, seeds, membrane under the seeds, and outer rind. In ripe ackee, the edible portion of the fruit is safe to consume. The seeds and outer rind, however, still contain high levels of hypoglycin and should not be consumed.***

The above facts, plus the possibility that green or over-ripe fruits or seeds could get into the cans during commercial canning, or be consumed when eating the fresh fruit leads CFSAN to conclude that all shipments of ackees, ***EXCEPT from those firms identified in the Attachment to this alert, ***should be detained without physical examination. ***The processors listed in the Attachment have food safety controls in place to ensure that only properly ripened ackees, without seeds, membrane, or outer rind, are used for canning.***

***FDA is also aware*** of attempts to smuggle canned ackees into the United States by either false declaration on the can labels or by concealing the canned ackees in containers of other food products and not declaring ackees on the Customs entry. Numerous detentions of ackees continued to occur during FY92 and FY93. Others have been reported since that time.

Specific examples of false declarations are:

1. Canned Ackee labeled as:
- "Montego Brand Jamaican Callaloo in Brine" (Callaloo is Jamaican
slang for spinach)
- "Tropic Ginger Beer, Product of Jamaica"
- "Tropic Banana Fruit"
- "Callaloo"

2. Cartons of canned ackees hidden among cartons of Jamaican beer (the
entire contents of the container labeled as beer)

Districts may detain without physical examination entries of ackees, in all product types, (canned, raw, frozen, dried, etc.) ***EXCEPT canned ackee from processors listed in the Green List below.

As other processors are identified to have food safety controls (HACCP) in place to control the potential for toxin contamination in the canned fruit, they will also be identified in this import alert. Because of the potential for toxin contamination from ackee, CFSAN has determined that all processors of canned ackee for export to the United States must be approved on a plant-by plant basis.***

For questions or issues concerning science, science policy, sample collection, analysis, preparation, or analytical methodology, contact the Division of Field Science at (301) 827-7605.

Ackees all product types including canned, frozen, raw, dried, etc. The ackee is known as the national fruit of Jamaica and may be called "akee", "akie", or "ishin"

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that the product appears to contain poisonous and deleterious substances, namely hypoglycin-A and hypoglycin-B, which may render it injurious to health [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(1)]."

OASIS charge code - POISONOUS