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FDA Flags Chinese Seafood

Officials put the brakes on imports of species tainted with unapproved drugs

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Jun 28, 2007 6:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – Add farmed seafood to the list of unsafe goods imported from China. The FDA will detain three varieties of fish as well as shrimp and eel, the agency said today, after tests revealed the presence of antibiotics and antifungals that aren't approved in the US for use in aquaculture. The level of contamination and risk to consumers are low.

The US will not impose a total ban, nor will it ask supermarkets or consumers to dump existing supplies, the AP reports. "We don't want to be alarmist here," said one FDA official. Importers who can show that their shipments are free of the drugs, some of which are carcinogenic, will be allowed to bring them into the country.

A Fisherman sorts fish to sell at Muara Karang bay in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 15, 2007. A recent meeting of the Asian Development bank in Kyoto highlighted the differences between Asia's fast growing powerhouse... (Associated Press)

An officer from the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce (BAIC) office speaks to journalists near fake or non-standard products on display at a BAIC food safety monitoring center in Beijing... (Associated Press)

Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, center, addresses a news conference about test results of imported fish, Wednesday April 25, 2007 in Montgomery, Ala. Sparks announced a stop sale order in... (Associated Press)

Game closed the fishery short of their Guideline Harvest Level as smaller fish began to come into the spawning system. (AP Photo/Klas Stolpe) (Associated Press)

A tagged Copper River salmon flown fresh from Cordova, Alaska, by Alaska Airlines cargo is shown Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle Tuesday May 15, 2007. Ocean Beauty Seafoods is tagging... (Associated Press)

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FDA Flags Chinese Seafood

Officials put the brakes on imports of species tainted with unapproved drugs

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Chinese Goods Flunk Gov't Safety Tests

Nearly 20% of domestic consumer products can't meet quality standards

FDA Plans to Open Outpost in China

Inspectors could block contaminated food from being exported to US

Budget Batters FDA Oversight of Foreign Drugs

Commissioner to testify before Congress today

Chinese PR Combats Export Rap

Enemies in Washington stymie effort to promote food products called unsafe

Toothpaste Scare Widens—Again

Tainted tubes from China turn up in Georgia prisons, hospitals

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

China • banned foods • food • FDA • drug safety • imports • contamination • seafood

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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More Newser Stories

Chinese Goods Flunk Gov't Safety Tests

Nearly 20% of domestic consumer products can't meet quality standards

FDA Plans to Open Outpost in China

Inspectors could block contaminated food from being exported to US

Budget Batters FDA Oversight of Foreign Drugs

Commissioner to testify before Congress today

Chinese PR Combats Export Rap

Enemies in Washington stymie effort to promote food products called unsafe

Toothpaste Scare Widens—Again

Tainted tubes from China turn up in Georgia prisons, hospitals

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