Posted on 6/29/2007, 1:03:11 AM by neverdem
Shrimp, catfish and other seafood farmed in China will be banned immediately from entering the U.S. because they contain harmful chemicals, the Food and Drug Administration said today.
The agency stressed that the contaminated fish are not being viewed as an immediate health risk and said consumers should feel comfortable eating fish currently being served in restaurants, grocery stores or their homes.
However, a nationwide industry alert was issued over China's seafood because the FDA continues to find traces of carcinogenic chemicals in fish imported from China.
During targeted sampling from October 2006 through May, the FDA repeatedly found that farm-raised seafood imported from China was contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for use in the United States.
China is the third-largest exporter of shrimp to the U.S. The U.S. also gets a significant amount of catfish from China; however, FDA officials did not have information on the exact amount of seafood imported from China.
The FDA will start to detain farm-raised catfish, shrimp, baa, eel and dace, which is related to carp, from China at the border until the shipments are proved to be free of residue from contaminants that are not approved in the United States for use in farm-raised aquatic animals.
Despite the alert, federal health regulators said the chemicals found in the fish do not represent a major health risk.
"There is no acute health concern; rather, it is a long-term health issue. We are not talking days, months or even years here,.."
--snip--
None of the substances is approved for use in farm-raised seafood in the United States, and the use of nitrofurans and malachite green in aquaculture is also prohibited by Chinese authorities. Chinese officials have acknowledged that fluoroquinolones are used in Chinese aquaculture and are permitted for use in China.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Wow, pet food, toothpaste, toys, tires and now seafood. What next?
Um? Yahoo for the Gov’t? Why is this even an issue? If I am going to eat “sea”food, I would prefer (demand) it be grown, killed, and cleaned within 100 miles of our coast.
Glad to know the usda/fda is looking out for my children (Too little, too late.)
Budweiser, Starbucks, MS Vista, Interest only mortgages, Paris H., Transfats, Moose cheese.
So the cure for an anthrax attack would be to eat some Chinese fish?
Time to invest in Bubba Gumps!
I heard that Moose Cheese is still only made in Denmark, so feel safe.
I am worried about Gen. Gao. He was a ruthless foe but he makes delightful chicken!
I just threw out some frozen scallops the other day when I read the label that they were from China!!! I don’t need the FDA to tell me to stay away from anything ingestible from China!
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FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
Health/life BTTT! Thanks for the ping.
Too bad, I really like tilapia.
Hopefully, everything else the ChiComms export. Poison or no poison, we need to shut them down before they become the next superpower.
Smallpox blankets.
No Chineezz Fud,,,bump...
I live less than ten miles from Bayou LaBatre.
Not Asking For Alabama Wild Shrimp Is Asking For The End Of A Way Of Life.
I didn’t see anything about Tilapia, does a lot of it come from China or are you assuming because they said seafood that it was Tilapia also, sounded like they are mostly talking about shrimp and catfish etc.
I think tilapia is a farm-grown fish, and I’ve seen a bunch of it from China. Rarely looked at the packaging otherwise. :’)
About three weeks ago I wanted to whip up a quick etouffee.
Usually I’ll just use whatever packaged frozen shrimp the grocery has.
This time I noticed they had frozen crawfish. Oh goody I thought.
Looked at the package, “Product of China”.
Back on the shelf it went.
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