Preservative in Frozen fishes ?

[dasalo]

micollh:

i wrote to AVA, this is their reply.. like not very clear too.. so it could ne still ahve some preservatives , just the check is on the level (they must have a range) if below the range, pass.. so meaning all our fishes(we import most fishes here) has preservatives..



Dear Madam Lim,

Thank you for your enquiry to AVA.

AVA has put in place an integrated surveillance programmes to ensure food safety. Imported fresh fishes are inspected and randomly sampled to check for formaldehyde and heavy metals. Fresh fishes available in wet markets and supermarkets in Singapore are safe for consumption.

Thank you.

Regards,

Li Lu | Assistant Manager (Food), Import & Export Regulation Div | Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
Tel 6325 7617 | Fax 6227 6403 | Website http://www.ava.gov.sg

They have a permissable range that's why the term safe for consumption is usually used.

Way2GO:

dis brief fr CFS is informative:
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fa_02_09.html

Interesting article

[micollh]

AVA is giving me "standard reply" as usual… i feel concern really… what dish should i feed my young kids now.

[SAHM_TAN]

Way2GO:

SAHM_TAN:

This can't be right, from what I know formalin is toxic to human. How can it be used as preservative? If sure of the source must inform ava.

Formalin is an FDA approved food additive (up to certain specified limit since it is known to be toxic n carcinogenic) which also occurs naturally in certain fishes n foods.

dis brief fr CFS is informative:
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fa_02_09.html

sigh......known to be toxic still approve

interesting article, guess only way to limit is grow own, so that can pluck and eat :evil: . Most of my fav fruits are on the list.

[SAHM_TAN]

verykiasu2010:

looks like we all need a fish pond at home now to rear fish for our own consumption http://i54.tinypic.com/1hqobb.jpg\"> http://i54.tinypic.com/1hqobb.jpg\">

Those of us living in HDB flats need to worry about quality of water too :evil:

As a human race, we are slowly \"killing\" ourselves. I just hope my body filter system can \"pai du\" fast enough.

[micollh]

u know sengkang area we are already drinking the newwater… meaning recycle water from our toilet, so to speak… so really no quality liao

[SAHM_TAN]

micollh:

AVA is giving me \"standard reply\" as usual.. i feel concern really... what dish should i feed my young kids now.

I do not know how much organic food can help. I know for fish farmed salmon, the food fed to the fish are added food colouring, that's why the salmon look so red and nice

[SAHM_TAN]

micollh:

u know sengkang area we are already drinking the newwater.. meaning recycle water from our toilet, so to speak.. so really no quality liao

It could be more widespread than that, how knows for sure except those in the know.

Just try to keep body healthy so that it can effectively flush out the toxic

[bebebub]

verykiasu2010:

looks like we all need a fish pond at home now to rear fish for our own consumption http://i54.tinypic.com/1hqobb.jpg\"> http://i54.tinypic.com/1hqobb.jpg\">

Reminds me of a news I saw somewhere that some Beijing residents are renting plots of land outside the city to cultivate their own vege n fruits to avoid/minimize consumption of produce that might be laden with pesticides n chemicals.

[micollh]

update, after the email from AVA, yest later afternoon, AVA called me up. he told me, only freshwater fish really been caught with formalin (he said this is for dead people)… and he said AVA is very strict on catching these vendors. For salmon/cod that were imported from overseas, take plane to reach here, they have to go thru the freezing process, which he said is expensive, thus, the vendor usually wont do such "stupid" thing to apply preservative, as the freezing portion is the preservative already. he said they still check on the frozen imported big fish, so far. no cases on formalin. he said he has young kids too, he feed them salmon/cod too, he said is safe to eat, dun worry. he some more tell me, "i teach you how to cook, you grill them,kids love it"…haaa… so… i feel, we still eat, but dun consume daily still, alternate with chicken and others…just to share to all ya

[dasalo]

micollh:

update, after the email from AVA, yest later afternoon, AVA called me up. he told me, only freshwater fish really been caught with formalin (he said this is for dead people)..

So freshwater fish or fresh fish? I will ask my fishmonger again what fish in particular that has additives.
I usually avoid fed/cultivated/pond fish/prawns. I go for deep sea fish with lots of scales.