Intermuscular Bones in Asian Carps: Health Threats, Solutions, and Future Directions

Intermuscular bones (IBs) are a common characteristic of Asian carp. Ingested IBs and other fishbone fragments are associated with health complications and have remained a significant concern among consumers. Asian carp are bony, and their safety concerning IBs is a hot topic, prompting extensive research on possible ways of eliminating IBs from fish products. The research on IBs is ongoing and has covered many facets, including their formation, morphology, counts, evolution, proteome, and gene function. Processing technologies to eliminate IBs in carp products have become another trending subject. The available literature revealed that immediate solutions to the health threats associated with IBs could be through the effective application of processing technologies. Thus, this paper seeks to review the formation and morphology of IBs in Asian carp, emphasizing the implications of IBs on the health of consumers. The review also delves into the processing technologies that lessen the health threats of IBs to consumers and how they can provide the much-needed relief to consumers who are reluctant to consume Asian carp.