November 28, 2006

Hong Kong bans sale of Mandarin fish
 

Hong Kong has banned sales of Mandarin fish after finding samples of the fish contaminated with a carcinogen called malachite green.

The Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has urged locals to temporarily stop eating Mandarin fish, but assured the public the carcinogen only appears to be present in small amounts.

Fishsellers were also asked to halt sales of the fish.

Hong Kong's media reported that the department tested 15 samples, of 1 kilogramme each and detected between 0.0022 and 2.3 milligrammes of malachite green in 11 samples.

Guangdong Institute of Food Science and Technology Vice President Chen Yongquan said small amounts of malachite green are not harmful, even though regulations prohibit it from seafood.

A Hong Kong supermarket spokesman said the Mandarin fish they sell comes from a registered fish market in south China's Guangdong province which is certified to supply fish to Hong Kong.

Fish suppliers in Guangzhou said they hope the Hong Kong finds the origin of the malachite green soon so innocent fisherman do not suffer further economic losses.

Despite the ban in Hong Kong, Mandarin fish is still enjoying brisk sales in Guangzhou, the capital city of the Guangdong province. Apparently, many do not know the fish has been banned in Hong Kong.

Malachite green contamination was detected in a number of freshwater fish from the mainland this year and last year.