October 26, 2007

Taiwan discovers banned drug in frozen shrimps from China

A shipment of frozen white shrimp imported from China in June has been found to contain Enrofloxacin, an illegal antibiotic in fish farming, a Department of Health (DOH) official said Thursday (October 25, 2007).

However, much of the shipment was believed to have been sold to consumers.

Cheng Huei-wen, director-general of the DOH's Bureau of Food Sanitation, said the 20-tonne shipment was imported by a local company.

The bureau has requested that the local county government investigate the whereabouts of this lot of shrimp and ask sellers to recall the remaining ones.

Cheng said the drug is used in humans as a bacteriostat and would have no serious impact to human health. However, it might cause gastrointestinal discomfort, allergies or crystaluria.

The drug was banned as it builds up resistance in humans if taken over long periods, he said.

China's shrimps were banned in Taiwan in late August after seven shipments were found to contain a carcinogenic drug.