What unapproved drugs or food additives have been detected in seafood imported from China?
Malachite green, fluoroquinolones, nitofurans, and gentian violet have all been detected. These drugs are used as to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungus on seafood or to prevent parasite infestation. However, they are not approved for use in farm-raised seafood in the United States. What is the risk posed by the seafood covered by the import alert? The levels of the contaminants that have been found are very low, most often at or near the minimum level of detection. As a result, the health risk posed by the detected drugs is primarily from long-term exposure. Nitrofurans, malachite green, and gentian violet have been shown to be carcinogenic in study animals, while the use of fluoroquinolones in food animals may increase antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. Based on the sum of all current information, FDA believes that risk to U.S. consumers due to these drugs in seafood products from China is minimal, and do not represent an immediate risk to public health. FDA’s action is
