Warning On Canned Food Containing Malachite Green

PENANG, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- The government has confirmed that canned food and preserved fish that are mostly imported from China contain a chemical known as "malachite green" that can cause cancer.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek has advised the public not to consume canned food or preserved fish containing the chemical until the government has issued a guideline on its permissible level of content.
He said several countries had banned the chemical but some allowed its usage provided that its level of content was not more than two percentage points per billion litres.
"Malaysia has not set the rate of percentage permitted or banned the chemical," he said, adding that the Health Ministry was working with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry and the Chemistry Department to set the permissible level of content of the chemical.
Dr Chua spoke to reporters after attending a dinner hosted by the Malaysian Frozen Food Producers Association here Saturday night.