ID :
21298
Fri, 09/26/2008 - 09:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21298
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Fish feed tainted with harmful chemical sold on market: gov't
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- Fish feed containing an industrial chemical that can cause kidney damage in humans was sold on the local market, the government said Thursday.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the discovery of
a second case of melamine contamination was made during an inspection last week
of 290 feed samples produced by 60 local companies.
Of the total checked, 68 tested positive for the chemical.
Twenty-two Chinese companies were recently found to have used melamine in making
baby formula, resulting in the death of four infants and the hospitalization of
thousands, causing an uproar in China.
Seoul started checking animal feed after a product made by a company that sold to
16 South Korean fish farms in March was found to contain traces of melamine. The
feed was made from powdered milk supplied by both local and Chinese companies.
The ministry added that of the 68 contaminated feed products found this time,
only seven were sold in the country, with the rest being exported, used as
samples to gauge market reaction and to conduct experiments.
Of those seven sold within the country, two were from a factory in Jeongeup that
was cited last week for selling tainted feed, while the rest were made by a
company in Incheon that distributed to 20 fish farms in July and August.
"Fish farms that have been supplied with the feed have been ordered not to sell
their fish, while authorities have seized and destroyed remaining stockpiles," a
government official said.
Melamine is a nitrogen-based chemical that can cause kidney damage in humans and
even death in severe cases. It is used widely in kitchen utensils like ladles. If
added to food it can fraudulently increase apparent protein content levels,
translating into higher prices.
Seoul, meanwhile, said that it will bar melamine from being used in animal feed.
In the past, South Korea, like many countries, did not have any clear
restrictions on the chemicals used in feed. Experts have not conducted serious
tests on the effect of melamine on humans. Experiments were conducted on animals
after Chinese pet food containing the chemical killed a large number of dogs and
cats in the United States and Canada early last year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- Fish feed containing an industrial chemical that can cause kidney damage in humans was sold on the local market, the government said Thursday.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the discovery of
a second case of melamine contamination was made during an inspection last week
of 290 feed samples produced by 60 local companies.
Of the total checked, 68 tested positive for the chemical.
Twenty-two Chinese companies were recently found to have used melamine in making
baby formula, resulting in the death of four infants and the hospitalization of
thousands, causing an uproar in China.
Seoul started checking animal feed after a product made by a company that sold to
16 South Korean fish farms in March was found to contain traces of melamine. The
feed was made from powdered milk supplied by both local and Chinese companies.
The ministry added that of the 68 contaminated feed products found this time,
only seven were sold in the country, with the rest being exported, used as
samples to gauge market reaction and to conduct experiments.
Of those seven sold within the country, two were from a factory in Jeongeup that
was cited last week for selling tainted feed, while the rest were made by a
company in Incheon that distributed to 20 fish farms in July and August.
"Fish farms that have been supplied with the feed have been ordered not to sell
their fish, while authorities have seized and destroyed remaining stockpiles," a
government official said.
Melamine is a nitrogen-based chemical that can cause kidney damage in humans and
even death in severe cases. It is used widely in kitchen utensils like ladles. If
added to food it can fraudulently increase apparent protein content levels,
translating into higher prices.
Seoul, meanwhile, said that it will bar melamine from being used in animal feed.
In the past, South Korea, like many countries, did not have any clear
restrictions on the chemicals used in feed. Experts have not conducted serious
tests on the effect of melamine on humans. Experiments were conducted on animals
after Chinese pet food containing the chemical killed a large number of dogs and
cats in the United States and Canada early last year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
