What is malachite green?
Malachite green, a triphenylmethane dye, can be used as a fungicide to treat fungal, bacterial and parasitic infections in fish and fish eggs. The substance can also be used to color paper, cotton, wool, silk, jute and leather. As a result, malachite green can be found in the effluent of pulp-and-paper mills. Q. Are there laws governing its use? The United States, Canada, European Union, Japan and Chile are among the countries that prohibit the use of malachite green in food production. The FDA has a zero-tolerance policy for malachite green and its metabolite, leucomalachite green, meaning no food containing any detectable level of the substances can be sold in the United States. The FDA tests for malachite green at a sensitivity level of 1 part per billion. Health Canada in April began testing at a level of 1 ppb on an interim basis. The European Union and Japan test at levels of 2 ppb and 5 ppb, respectively. Q. What are the potential adverse health effects of malachite green? The N
