May 28, 2007

Poisonous fish found in Chinese seafood shipment to the US

A seafood importer in California said it was recalling seafood from China which may have been mislabeled and could contain a deadly species of fish.

Hong Chang Corp. of Santa Fe Springs is recalling mislabeled frozen fish shipments that could contain pufferfish, a species which carries a deadly toxin.

The seafood importer began a voluntary recall following reports that two people became ill after eating soup that contained the fish, according to a statement.

The shipment of 282 boxes, labeled as monkfish, were shipped to wholesalers in California, Hawaii and Illinois last September.

Tests of the fish by the FDA had found potentially lethal amounts of tetrodotoxin, a substance usually found in the pufferfish.

The FDA said it is taking the issue "very seriously".

China ships about US$500 million of seafood to the US each year.

In Japan, pufferfish is a delicacy where only specially licensed chefs are allowed to cook the fish after they have attended a 2-year training course on how to remove its toxins. 

The FDA said tetrodotoxin is one of the most violent intoxications from marine species and paralysis and death can result from ingesting the poison.

Concerns have been rising over food imports from China after wheat gluten for use in pet food was found to be responsible for dozens of pet deaths in the US. The pet food was also used in animal feed, prompting concerns in chicken and pig farms in the US.