- Hello Jeff - Here we go again. The fish was labeled
Monkfish but now, the Chinese company says the fish may be Pufferfish.
They just won't stop substituting will they. When buying from China,
you don't seem to get what the product label reads. What is it when these
types of substitutions take place? Fraud. Also murder and attempted murder.
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- I have not heard of one case of a company representative
getting charged.
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- Stay tuned...because as I said on the program May 17th,
the pet food scandal is only the tip of the iceberg.
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- Poison from China goes far beyond pet foods.
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- Patty
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- TETRODOTOXIN, MONKFISH - USA EX CHINA: SUSPECTED,
RECALL
- Source: The Denver Post
- 5-24-7
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- Fish Importer Announces Monkfish Recall
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- A frozen product labeled monkfish distributed in 3 states
is being recalled after 2 Chicago area people became ill after eating it,
the importer announced Thursday [24 May 2007]. Hong Chang Corporation of
Santa Fe Springs, CA., said it is recalling the product labeled as monkfish
because it may contain tetrodotoxin, a potent toxin.
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- While the frozen fish imported from China was labeled
monkfish, the company said it is concerned that it may be pufferfish because
this toxin is usually associated with certain types of pufferfish. Eating
foods containing tetrodotoxin can result in life-threatening illness or
death and the toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking or freezing. The company
said 2 people in the Chicago area became ill after eating soup containing
the fish. Analysis by the Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence
of the toxin.
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- Some 282 22-pound boxes of the fish were distributed
to wholesalers in Illinois, California and Hawaii, according to the company
beginning in September [2006]. The fish was sold in retail stores, restaurants
and cash and carry stores in these regions.
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- The fish are individually packaged in clear plastic sleeves
and placed in a plastic liner which is inside a cardboard box. There are
no lot numbers on the box. Labels on one panel read "MONK FISH GUTTED
AND HEAD-OFF PRODUCT OF CHINA". A 2nd box panel bears nutritional
facts and the following, "Ingredients: Monk fish; Imported by: Hong
Chang Corp., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670; Product of China (P.R.C.)."
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- Consumers who have purchased this monkfish can return
it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Care should be exercised
in handling the fish as the tetrodotoxin may be present on the skin and
flesh of the fish. Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
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- Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-562-309-0068.
People who may have consumed these products and have concerns are encouraged
to contact their health care provider. Illnesses associated with consumption
of these products should be reported to the nearest FDA district offices
and to the local health authority.
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- http://www.denverpost.com/healthcare/ci_5977852
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- Communicated by:
- ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett
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- Tetrodotoxin, a very potent toxin, selectively blocks
the voltage-sensitive sodium channels of excitable tissues and neuronal
transmission in skeletal muscles. In humans, paresthesias begin 10-45 minutes
after ingestion, usually as tingling of the tongue and inner surface of
the mouth. Other common symptoms include vomiting, lightheadedness, dizziness,
feelings of doom, and weakness. Paralysis spreads, and death can occur
within 6 - 24 hours, often due to paralysis of the muscles of respiration.
Other signs include salivation, muscle twitching, diaphoresis, pleuritic
chest pain, dysphagia, aphonia, and convulsions. Severe poisoning is indicated
by hypotension, bradycardia, depressed corneal reflexes, and fixed dilated
pupils. There is no specific antidote and treatment is often supportive.
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- There are a number of different species of puffer fish
or blow fish, each of which produces a different concentration of the toxin.
- Mod.TG ....................tg/ejp/mpp
-
- Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
- Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
- Univ of West Indies
-
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at:
- http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php
- Also my new website:
- http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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