Three canned products from China unsafe for consumption

Star: PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has released the names of three brands of canned products from China, which contain malachite green (MG) above the “administrative level” of two parts per billion (ppb).
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the brands involved were Gulong, Lantern and Pearl River Bridge.
He said however that not all consignments of these brands had MG above the 2ppb level. The ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Department had set 2ppb as the “administrative level” – an extremely low quantity and safe for consumption.
“Those that had MG above that level were rejected and confiscated,” he said yesterday.
“It is now for the public to use their discretion whether or not to buy these brands,” he said.
Brands that tested for MG below the administrative level are Ali Shan, Yupin, Double Flower, Eagle Coin, Pearl River Bridge, New Sun, Ganzhu and Latern.
Pearl River Bridge, Eagle Coin and Gulong also have consignments that have results of the MG levels pending.
Malachite green is not listed as a scheduled substance under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, and thus is a prohibited substance in food.
Malachite green is traditionally used in the aquaculture industry to treat fungus and parasites in fishes as it is cheap, easily available and effective, Its use is restricted to ornamental fishes only.
Dr Chua said the Chinese Embassy’s trade counsellor met with his officers and him on Thursday to convey his satisfaction with the steps taken by the ministry on this matter.
“The embassy has also advised its exporters to co-operate with us, and ensure that the administrative level established by us is observed,” he said.

On the Medical Assistance Fund, Dr Chua refuted claims that bureaucracy had caused the death of Intan Syafiqah Mohd Fauzi, a three-year-old child diagnosed with chronic liver failure.
Intan Syafiqah’s mother Norhayati Omar, 29, told a local Malay daily on Thursday that her child had waited two years to obtain funds for an operation, but failed to receive any money because of bureaucracy.
Dr Chua said the deceased was not eligible for the fund as her parents had opted for surgery in a private hospital, and funds were only given to patients who underwent surgery at a government hospital.
He said liver transplant surgery was available at Selayang Hospital and the expertise there was the best in the region.
A professor from Australia heads the unit and his standards are comparable with that of doctors from the world’s best hospitals offering liver transplants.