ID :
20181
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 14:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/20181
The shortlink copeid
Locally circulated fish feed contaminated with harmful chemical
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout)
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- Locally circulated fish feed has been contaminated with the harmful chemical melamine, known to cause kidney-related problems in humans, the government said Friday.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it has found
traces of the chemical in feed made by a company in Jeongeup, North Jeolla
Province, that produced the feed using the powdered intestinal parts of squid.
The powders reportedly came from both South Korea and China, and were supplied to
16 fish farms beginning in March of this year. Of the 619 tons of fish feed
produced by the company, 583 tons were sold on the market while 29 tons were
recalled after the problem was detected.
Melamine is a byproduct of plastic, and can be used to mimic high-protein food
additives. If taken in very large amounts it can cause death in animals and
humans. China has been rocked by the discovery of the chemical in baby formulas
and dairy products in recent weeks.
"The feed was provided to fish farms in North Jeolla and North Chungcheong
provinces, with 400 tons of catfish having been sold to nearby restaurants so
far," said ministry spokesman Chung Hwang-keun.
The official then said that while the industrial chemical is harmful, most
scientists concur that humans eating fish and animals that have been fed the
tainted product run very little health risk.
"Tests conducted by the U.S. FDA have shown that the chemical does not remain in
the animals for very long, so their effect on humans may not be serious," Chung
said.
The spokesman added that authorities are currently investigating how the
industrial chemical got into the fish feed, and are taking steps to prevent a
reoccurrence, including a possible ban.
Because melamine is an industrial product not usually found in materials that go
into fish feed, the country currently has no clear cut restrictions on its use,
although the latest discovery could expedite the process to regulate the
substance.
The ministry, meanwhile, said the remaining feed and squid powder have all been
destroyed by the local government, with the feed manufacturer fined for failing
to fully label ingredients used in the feed.
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- Locally circulated fish feed has been contaminated with the harmful chemical melamine, known to cause kidney-related problems in humans, the government said Friday.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it has found
traces of the chemical in feed made by a company in Jeongeup, North Jeolla
Province, that produced the feed using the powdered intestinal parts of squid.
The powders reportedly came from both South Korea and China, and were supplied to
16 fish farms beginning in March of this year. Of the 619 tons of fish feed
produced by the company, 583 tons were sold on the market while 29 tons were
recalled after the problem was detected.
Melamine is a byproduct of plastic, and can be used to mimic high-protein food
additives. If taken in very large amounts it can cause death in animals and
humans. China has been rocked by the discovery of the chemical in baby formulas
and dairy products in recent weeks.
"The feed was provided to fish farms in North Jeolla and North Chungcheong
provinces, with 400 tons of catfish having been sold to nearby restaurants so
far," said ministry spokesman Chung Hwang-keun.
The official then said that while the industrial chemical is harmful, most
scientists concur that humans eating fish and animals that have been fed the
tainted product run very little health risk.
"Tests conducted by the U.S. FDA have shown that the chemical does not remain in
the animals for very long, so their effect on humans may not be serious," Chung
said.
The spokesman added that authorities are currently investigating how the
industrial chemical got into the fish feed, and are taking steps to prevent a
reoccurrence, including a possible ban.
Because melamine is an industrial product not usually found in materials that go
into fish feed, the country currently has no clear cut restrictions on its use,
although the latest discovery could expedite the process to regulate the
substance.
The ministry, meanwhile, said the remaining feed and squid powder have all been
destroyed by the local government, with the feed manufacturer fined for failing
to fully label ingredients used in the feed.
