Validation of a new tool for seafood safety and traceability: the case of Manila clam <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i>

Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum represents an important economic resource of Italian aquaculture. However, especially for Venice lagoon, health and environmental risks should be evaluated. A multidisciplinary approach was used. In particular, local production chain analysis and end-user requirements were investigated to assess manila clam safety and traceability in Northern Adriatic Sea. Moreover, the molecular and biochemical techniques demonstrated a good quality of the investigated farming sites, due to the absence of biotoxins. Molecular markers provided informations on the population genetics and specific genetic traits of <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> in Northern Adriatic Sea, which was investigated for the first time. The complexity of all these informations was simplified in a single useful tool: a database containing all the informations about the seafood product.