Contaminants found in raw fish in Thailand not exceed safety standard

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) - Recent tests conducted by Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both under the Ministry of Public Health, have found lead, mercury, cadmium and bacteria in raw fish served at restaurants in Thailand, but the amounts found did not exceed official safety standard levels. Dr. Apichai Mongkol, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, told journalists on Tuesday that the recent tests found 0.01-0.04 milligrams/kilogram of mercury in 46 out of 78 samples of salmon, less than 0.01 milligrams/kilogram of lead in five out of 62 samples and 0.02-0.12 milligrams/kilogram of cadmium in three out of 153 samples. Dr. Apichai confirmed that the contaminated amounts found in raw fish at Japanese restaurants is considered very low and within the safety standard levels, set by the Thai Ministry of Public Health. Another test conducted in May–June also detected bacteria, which can cause food poisoning, in seven out of 52 samples of raw fish from 32 Japanese restaurants in Bangkok and adjacent provinces but no parasitic Anisakis worms were detected. The senior official, however, advised consumers to eat raw fish at original Japanese restaurants serving sashimi-grade or shushi-grade fish, which are considered safe for consumption. (TNA)