|
Health Hazard Alert
Empire's Choice Grilled Eel may contain
nitrofurans and malachite green residues
March 24, 2006
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
and Viandex Inc. are warning the public not
to consume Empire's Choice Grilled Eel because
the product may be contaminated with Nitrofurans,
Malachite Green (MG), and Leucomalachite
Green (LMG) residues.
The affected product, Empire's Choice Grilled
Eel, a product of Taiwan, is sold frozen
in 227 g (8 oz) packages.
This product has been distributed
in the Quebec City area.
There have been no reported illnesses associated
with the consumption of this product.
Nitrofurans are antimicrobial drugs, which
are banned for use in Canada in food producing
animals. Consumption of foods contaminated
with nitrofurans may pose a human health
risk related to the toxicity of the drug.
Malachite Green is not approved in Canada
for therapeutic use in any food-producing
animal, including fish and fish products.
Scientific evidence indicates that elevated
levels of Leucomalachite Green (LMG), a metabolite
of Malachite Green (MG), may pose a risk
to human health.
The importer, Viandex Inc., Quebec City,
Quebec is voluntarily recalling the affected
product from the marketplace and the CFIA
is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry
can call one of the following numbers:
- Jean Gagné,
Viandex Inc. at 418-681-2482.
- CFIA at 1 800 442-2342 / TTY 1 800 465-7735
(8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday
to Friday).
|
