January 18, 2012

Mexicohalts tilapia imports for possible contamination
 

Fifty tonnes of tilapia from China have been halted from entering Mexico after the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) issued a health alert for possible contamination of malachite green.
 

According to Federico Ziga Martinez, president of the National Restaurant and Spicy Food Industry (CANIRAC), COFEPRIS ordered a sampling to determine the situation with tilapia.

He also says that the cargo is still immobilised in Juarez Customs until the laboratory results are obtained, which can take about three days.

Meanwhile, the restaurants will not have tilapia from China, although most use local products.

Ziga Martinez also makes it clear that the restaurant owners took steps to stop offering Chinese tilapia to consumers.

Meanwhile, officials of the National Service of Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) explain that it is up to COFEPRIS to determine whether the cargo represents a danger to the health of consumers.

While the country has no restrictions prohibiting the admission of Chinese tilapia, Juarez Customs has immobilized the product since COFEPRIS issues the warning on January 10. The measure will continue until the results are made known, El Diario reports.

As there are no laboratories in Juarez to make the necessary studies, samples have to be sent elsewhere in Mexico.
 

"There is great demand in the town and even more now that we are close to Lent season, so it is important to be careful with this product", said Ziga Martinez.

Malachite green is used as an antiseptic in various parts of the world to combat the attack of external parasites, pathogens, fungi and bacteria in fish.

In 1997, the Health Ministry of Chile banned its use in the salmon and food industry, because of its carcinogenic and mutagenic potential.

In the United Kingdom, the British Food Safety Agency banned its use in the food industry in June 2003, NorteDigital informed.