Chinese Seafood Imports Halted

Farmed fish from China contained traces of cancer-causing agents The United States will detain a variety of farmed Chinese seafood products at the border until they can be tested for carcinogenic drugs that aren't approved for use in U.S. foods, the Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday afternoon. China is the No. 1 importer of seafood to the United States. The step was framed as a precaution, despite that cancer-causing substances have repeatedly been found in seafood imports. The FDA has had no reports of illnesses from farmed Chinese seafood like catfish, basa, shrimp, dace (which is related to carp), and eel. “We''re taking this strong step because of current and continuing evidence that certain Chinese aquaculture products imported into the United States contain illegal substances that are not permitted in seafood sold in the United States,” Dr. David Acheson, FDA''s assistant commissioner for food protection, said in a statement released to the press. “We will accept entries of these products from Chinese firms that demonstrate compliance with our requirements and safety standards.” In tests that spanned from October 2006 to May 2007, the FDA repeatedly found farm-raised seafood from China with the unapproved antimicrobial agents nitrofuran, malachite green and gentian violet -- all of which are carcinogenic. Another agent, fluoroquinolone, may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics. None of the agents can be used in U.S. aquaculture. The use of nitrofurans and malachite green is also banned in China. Because the levels of the drug residues that have been found in seafood are very low -- most often at or near the minimum level of detection -- the FDA is not seeking recall of products, according to a story in the June 29 USA today. For more information, click here. -- Dan Shapley, news editor SAFE FOOD WATCH: Eye On Pesticides A special report with news, tips, recipes and more Pesticide Body Burden? Don''t Look And Don''t Find Five Ways To Keep Your Family Safe From Pesticides Eco-Speak: Integrated Pest Management Pesticides And Food By The Numbers 6 Surefire Ways To Buy Organics On A Budget Steering Clear Of The Dirty Dozen Poached Figs, Apricots And Cherries (and More Organically Inspired Recipes) There's A 600-Pound Gorilla In The Room And It's American Farm Policy Pesticide Avoidance 101