NCDA&CS announces recall of imported fish

A Chicago company is voluntarily recalling imported Golden Boy brand silver barb fish from Vietnam after tests by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found residue of an antibiotic not approved in the United States for use in farm-raised fish.

Lien Hoa Food Corp. is notifying North Carolina retailers who received shipments of the fish to pull the product from seafood cases.

The fish tested positive for a fluoroquinolone, a class of antibiotics used to treat common human infections.
State public health officials said the antibiotics are potentially harmful to children and the fetus in pregnant women if ingested in large enough quantities. In addition, the use of fluoroquinolones in human food might increase the risk of resistance to this class of antibiotics.

“Anyone who bought the fish should not eat it,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Return it to the place of purchase or throw it in the trash.”

Department inspectors obtained samples of the fish from an Asian market in North Carolina that was supplied by Lien Hoa Food Corp. They are working to find other retailers in the state that might have received the fish.

“Our inspectors will be checking to make sure this product is pulled from store shelves,” Troxler said.