the Science X network is one of the largest online communities for science-minded people. Finally the results were compared with the various accusations made in the wider media. Murk, A. J., Rietjens, I. M., & Bush, S. R. (Forthcoming). By . I also enjoy the fish as others I have spoken to. Here we have listed 5 reasons not to eat pangasius: Contaminated Water: Normally, the farms are dirty as well as contaminated which will invariably lead to certain human health problems. Shrimp 2. 2: Pangasius Fish is so cheap because growers feed it garbage and bits of dead fish. Your opinions are important to us. I just doubt the story about this fish are full of bacteria this is HOAX or not ?? It includes membes of the European fishing industry and US farmed catfish industry concerned about protecting their market Europe. Pangasius has emerged as a key aquaculture species in Vietnam which accounts for more than 90% of what is sold on the international market. So, you are basically eating contaminated fish that will make you sick. Pangas are raised in Vietnam. Pangasius is a term used for a special variety of imported freshwater fish that have become the tenth most popular seafood product eaten in the United States. But at the same time, there have been a number of claims made about the safety and sustainability of pangasius. As a consequence, the animal itself, an omnivorous fish and an apex predator, is also highly contaminated, according to several reports, including one from the World Health Organization. Parasitic infestations are common. The fish comes from the Mekong River in Vietnam, one of the longest tributaries in the world, and also one of the most polluted due to the presence of pesticides and other chemical compounds used in rice crops, or human activities such as deforestation. Published on . A high percentage of the fish are deaf or blind. xx:xx-xx http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/raq.12151/abstract, Wright, J. Whitefish wars: Pangasius, politics and consumer confusion in Europe. Marine Policy, 36(3), 738-745. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X11001564, Your email address will not be published. For sociologists this opens up questions like who is responsible for defining risks? According to the researchers, although there were no significant differences between supermarkets, the average concentration of mercury in the marinade presentation (0.18 mg / kg) was higher than that obtained in the natural pangasius (0.16 mg / kg). Updated November 16, 2018. 1. "The consumption of this fish could expose the share of the population most sensitive to contaminants that could be in this species," says Ángel J. Gutiérrez Fernández, professor of the Toxicology Department at the University of La Laguna. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Tech Xplore in any form. But it also extends to environmental NGOs and politicians. Canned/ Pouched Tuna 4. Fish - how long does fish last? I would like this video uploaded please for the public to watch and consider eating the fish for themselves. How do different societal groups create uncertainty that influences decisions over production and trade? Your email address will not be published. Historically, Atlantic cod is a species proven to be vitally important to feeding the New … Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can eat both white (albacore) and light canned/pouched tuna as part of a variety of their 2-3 servings of seafood each week. This means that any reference to a chemical gives the impression of danger without understanding the risk they might pose to human or environmental health. Swai fish are raised in huge basins in large factory … in the U.S. are all safe and healthy to eat during pregnancy. Fish low in mercury, like salmon and tilapia, were advised and high mercury fish… Optional (only if you want to be contacted back). In short it is one of the key success stories of Asian aquaculture. Steven Hedlund . Plataforma SINC. Based on the years of experience as a Phys.org medical research channel, started in April 2011, Medical Xpress became a separate website. Crab 9. Pangasius has emerged as one of the most controversial seafood products in both Europe and the US. Medical Xpress is a part of Science X network. They also examined rejected pangasius. Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox, © Medical Xpress 2011 - 2020 powered by Science X Network. A., & Murray, F. J. This article reviews basa fish and whether eating it is healthy or risky. It fresh water fish you know it it can be dirty. "is basa fish safe to eat?" This type of fish is one of the most favorite foods in almost every European country. PETA reports, “Sea lice, for example, eat at the fish, causing their scales to … And what economic and political interests lie behind the claims that are made? In our paper published in Reviews in Aquaculture we compare these various claims over the presence of toxic compounds in pangasius we decided to study exactly what risk they actually pose. Essentially, they’re injecting fish with hormones to speed up the process of growth and reproduction. Other hand if I never know this story it fish kinda test good I think. Atlantic Cod. This is the very opposite end of the spectrum of sustainable consumerism. It is pretty affordable and tasty. 5 The reason not to eat pangasius. Identify the news topics you want to see and prioritize an order. ... We are not aware of anyone reporting getting sick from eating the fish we produce. The results of the study, published in the Chemosphere Journal, reveal that some specimens, especially in their marinated presentations, exceed the maximum admissible concentrations set by European legislation at 0.5 mg / kg (Regulation (EC) Nr. In doing so we first systematically documented claims across television, radio, newspaper, online and social media made in the US and different European countries from 2008 to 2014. This  can be characterized as an ever wider group of non-experts giving voice to the definition and interpretation of risk with little engagement with or reference to the scientific process of risk assessment. María Rodríguez et al. Pollock 6. Most commercially available basa is farmed in open pens on the Mekong River in Vietnam which is raises concerns with the fish living in polluted waters. Consumers are eating about 6 ounces of Pangasius per year and demand for this moderately priced selection is expected to continue to increase. The maximum amount of filet that could have been consumed without any adverse effects would be between 3.5 and 167 kg per day for the entire life of a 70kg adult when considering pesticides and between 0.6 and 303 kg filet/day for the filets recalled in the last 10 years because of the presence of preservatives and antibiotics. You probably already know that you’re supposed to be eating fish twice a week. With global reach of over 5 million monthly readers and featuring dedicated websites for hard sciences, technology, smedical research and health news, Fish are a lean, healthy source of protein–and the oily kinds, such as salmon, tuna, and sardines–deliver those heart- and brain-healthy omega-3 fats that you should also be getting in your diet. Catfish 10. Answered by Dr. Kaveh Karandish: Bass fish? Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletters are free features that allow you to receive your favourite sci-tech news updates. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. "It is necessary to exhaustively control the mercury content in this type of fish," says the researcher. The protein content of swai is average compared to other common fish… This is not the first example of confusion between risk and hazard. Pangasius 7. Chemosphere, Provided by It is especially requested in school canteens and senior centers. Pangasius is one type of fish that is favored by the people of Indonesia, as evidenced by the many processed catfish that exist. Plataforma SINC. Eating fish is generally encouraged as it supplies lean protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fat. It is a … New Directions in Environmental Governance, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/raq.12151/abstract, http://advocate.gaalliance.org/risk-v-hazard-a-dispassionate-look-at-pangasius/#sthash.PgyOc4ii.dpufhttp://advocate.gaalliance.org/risk-v-hazard-a-dispassionate-look-at-pangasius/, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X11001564, Sustainable fisheries require capable fishers, Let them eat carp: Fish farms are helping to fight hunger, The future of aquaculture value chain research. This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, and provide content from third parties. Don’t Eat this fish: Pangas (Pangasius, Vietnamese River Cobbler, White Catfish, Gray Sole) Cheap cheap fish! It is also necessary to the make scientific interpretations of risk publically available. Swai can Contain Toxins from Factory Farming. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.137, Journal information: 1. Continuous consumption of pangasius exposes to dangerous mercury levels. In actual, the reality is that the farms water is dirty and overcrowded. Even if we take the highest levels of the toxic contaminants ever reported in RASFF alerts for Vietnamese pangasius, daily consumption of that filet would still be safe based on the toxicological risk assessment. It is also one of the top five most consumed species in both the US and the EU, and is rapidly expanding in Asia and other regions of the world as a cheap source of fish protein. Mirroring a drop in emissions, mercury in tuna also declines, How mercury contamination affects reptiles in the Amazon basin, Mercury in fish affected by both prey type and quality, study finds, Detailed consumption advisories would better serve women across US, Study supports fish consumption during pregnancy, States' fish consumption advisories are often not in line with federal recommendations, COVID-19 pandemic responsible for decrease in hepatitis C testing, Age, gender and COVID-19: A complex, hormone-driven interplay, Creative workshops can aid mental health recovery, New report details links between widespread ocean pollution and human health risks, Drug attenuates weight gain in animals fed a high-fat diet, Replacing red meat with plant foods may reduce the risk of heart disease, Smoking, tobacco use among teens continues to drop even as use of e-cigs grows, Gene-editing treatment shows promise for sickle cell disease, CAR T-cell therapy found highly effective in patients with high-risk non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Study reveals surprising benefit of clonal hematopoiesis in allogeneic transplants, Once hospitalized, Black patients with COVID-19 have lower risk of death than white, New CRISPR-based test for COVID-19 uses a smartphone camera, New pathway in Alzheimer's disease provides earlier target for potential therapies, Gasdermin offers insight into coral necrotic death, Researchers define immune system's requirements for protection against COVID-19, Researchers discover new particle in the blood of septic patients, PTSD with depression may significantly increase risk of early death in women. The analysis, performed by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry, shows a wide range of mercury concentrations between 0.10-0.69 mg / kg, with average value of 0.22 mg / kg. "The consumption of this fish could expose the share of … Some of the cream dory’s biggest detractors generally claim that Pangasius growers tamper with the feeds by grinding up bits of waste material (e.g., dead fish) into a paste and mixing it up with all sorts of hormones. And for the aquaculture industry it certainly won’t be the last. Given that mass mediated claims hold considerable consequences for the sustainable and safe expansion of aquaculture, building an understanding of how policy makers, companies and consumers respond to such claims is an important next step of the research. Local fish such as pomfret and king fish cost somewhere between Rs 550-570 a kilo, but the same quantity of imported Basa is available at Rs 240-250. VASEP: Pangasius is 100 percent safe . The RASFF database actually presents the worst case situation, given the products listed were not allowed into Europe. There is a high mortality rate among farm-raised fish. Note: since I knew the story I feel sick with this fish every time I eat. It is a primary example of the increasing demand and dependence on aquaculture or farm raised … Answered by Dr. Kaveh Karandish: Bass fish? Their toxicological research showed that even the rejected pangasius contains barely any pesticides or chemicals. The researchers conclude that in cases where the maximum permitted concentration is exceeded, and after continued consumption, there may be a health risk due to the accumulation of mercury in adults and, above all, in children. Scary information is published about the potential risk of these compounds, but hardly ever about the actual levels nor the amount the body can handle before the safe limit is reached. An adult could safely eat between 3.4 and 166 kg of rejected pangasius fillet each day for his or her entire life without having any adverse effects from contamination with pesticides. The industry has expanded in terms of both production and trade. It is important to state that in the vast majority of imported Panga no toxic compounds can be found at all. Even if we take the highest levels of the toxic contaminants ever reported in RASFF alerts for Vietnamese pangasius, daily consumption of that filet would still be safe … I personally have had no ill effects from the fish and made it with various recipes. The final FDA guidelines on the fish pregnant women should and should not eat were released. Pangas are not environmentally sustainable, a most unsustainable food you could possibly eat - 'Buy local' means creating the least amount of environmental harm as possible. Salmon 3. A potential risk only is a risk if you actually are exposed to it in higher levels than even the most sensitive person, including unborn children, can handle. It is pretty affordable and tasty. Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors. In a recent paper published in Reviews in Aquaculture we ask whether the controversy justified.Â. Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. At the same time, we are aware that in the United States people died and got very sick from eating peanuts that came from the South, as well as eggs and other agricultural products. Is Swai Fish Safe to Eat? Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. Because I had read negative comments about Basa fish, I wanted to learn more about the subject. Tilapia 5. Medical Xpress is a web-based medical and health news service that is part of the renowned Science X network. However, basa fish dangers which originate from Vietnam is a low-quality fish and can be very dangerous for your health. Based on our study we conclude that consumption of pangasius available on the European market does not pose any concern for the health of the consumer. It’s a complex story which made it interesting for us to bring together sociology and toxicology to examine how mass mediated claims are confusing how the public understands the difference between hazard and risk in aquaculture production. Global Aquaculture Advocate, November 30, 2015 [online] http://advocate.gaalliance.org/risk-v-hazard-a-dispassionate-look-at-pangasius/#sthash.PgyOc4ii.dpufhttp://advocate.gaalliance.org/risk-v-hazard-a-dispassionate-look-at-pangasius/, Little, D. C., Bush, S. R., Belton, B., Phuong, N. T., Young, J. This type of fish is one of the most favorite foods in almost every European country. The group making these claims is very broad. Mystery fish: The label said red snapper, the lab said baloney; The benefits (and risks) of eating fish; Eat a heart-healthy diet; Is squid oil a good source of omega 3 fatty acids? Basa ( Pangasius bocourti ), which is largely grown in Mekong delta, is found to be infested with unsafe drugs, many of which are carcinogenic in nature, say reports. Please, allow us to send you push notifications with new Alerts. We then calculated the amount of pangasius fillet that could have been safely eaten every day. ... Basa — like other white fish — is a good source of high-quality protein. Fish that normally eat plants are fed fish and fish oils. That’s bad news for diners’ pocketbooks — few people would want to pay top dollar for fillets that cost less than $2 per pound wholesale. But the very first step is to make clearer to the public and policy makers alike that the hazard of a compound does not necessarily pose a risk. The compounds that were suggested to pose a risk were also not the ones that were reported in the RASFF database. Is it safe to eat swai fish? In the future its necessary to increase the understanding of risk assessment of our environment and  food. I have fully researched the Panga problem now and I personally find it safe to eat. The industry has become an important source of employment and wealth generation in the Mekong Delta. According to a recent Oceana report, pangasius has masqueraded as at least 18 other kinds of fish, from inexpensive farmed species to costly wild-caught fish like red snapper or cod. Assessment of mercury content in Panga ( Pangasius hypophthalmus ), Chemosphere (2017). The highest level for every restricted substance in the RASFF database was used to calculate the maximum daily safe consumption. Pangasius is a type of fish that is still a family with catfish or can be spelled out, similar to catfish. But then there’s the concern about choosing seafood that’s sustainable. When available we collected the levels of the compounds named as well as the sources cited. In my country people usually said don't eat Sawai(Pangas) from Vietnam. We do not guarantee individual replies due to extremely high volume of correspondence. "is basa fish safe to eat?" (2012). We also took all notifications of restricted substances found in imported pangasius to the EU recorded in the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, or RASSF. According to research conducted at Purdue University, swai (or pangasius) contains 17 milligrams of EPA plus DHA for every 100 grams of fish. Because of its abundance, proven health benefits and concentration of protein, fish is a great main dish choice. Pangasius hypophthalmus tends to accumulate higher concentrations of metals such as mercury. People especially worry about synthetic compounds that could be present in their food such as pesticides and plasticizers. "Once these data have been obtained and assuming a weekly consumption of 350 grams of pangasius, the percentage of contribution to the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) of mercury (4 μg / kg bw / week) is 32% and 27.5% for women and men, respectively," says Gutiérrez. Is it safe to eat Basa fish?
2. Basa also know as swai, is a species of catfish and is safe to eat. by The shelf life of fish depends on a variety of factors, such as the sell by date the preparation method and how the fish was stored. To explain the findings, researchers calculated the maximum amount of pangasius considered safe to eat, on the basis of the highest levels of the toxic contaminants ever discovered in pangasius. Of course, the ingredients you use to cook and coat swai fillets will change the nutrition content, typically adding more fats, carbs and sodium. I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Required fields are marked *. Is pangasius (dory) fish safe to eat? Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. The pangasius case also shows how mass-mediated communication can shift attention from claims based on science to claims based on political and economic interests. Is pangasius really full of poison? Worth the risk? ... Vietnamese cobbler, pangasius, or swai. The confusion that this misrepresentation leads to refers to this ‘mass-mediated risk’. Their claims have been successful to the extent that they continue to be circulated via social media. fish fillets healthy fish Pangasius fillets To eat or not to eat: Story behind the very affordable Pangasius fillets 0 comment Claim No. Pangasius have whiskers that are useful as Patil, just like catfish. The Basa fish (Pangasius Fillets) is sold as frozen fillets all around Europe. However, basa fish dangers which originate from Vietnam … These have ranged from statements that pangasius is ‘full of poison’ stemming from the ‘heavily polluted Mekong River’. From a sociological perspective what we see is that claims made come from a poor understanding of the difference between potential and real health risks. You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Starting from pangasius vegetable soup, pangasius curry, until abon made from pangasius meat. Pangasius hypophthalmus tends to accumulate higher concentrations of metals such as mercury. (2015) Risk v. hazard: A dispassionate look at pangasius. To assess the toxic risk due to mercury that could result from eating pangasius, a team of researchers from the Canary Islands (Spain) has analyzed a total of 80 samples of frozen fillets stored in three large areas and available to consumers in natural or marinated forms. Wageningen University has researched pangasius to get to know if this fish contains toxins. Cod 8. The pangasius, originally from Vietnam, is one of the most popular fish in the world due to its low cost, mild flavor and fillet presentation without skin or bones. Pangasius is now traded to well over 100 countries worldwide. The pangasius fish is also known as dory, and it's one of Asia's cheapest as well as most consumed fish; in the past pangasius production in Vietnam was the target of various 'damaging' stories from Western media outlets, and these stories continue to negatively influence the Asian market of pangasius fish today. Contaminated Water. However, the concern with the Pangasius hypophthalmusis does not involve its nutritional profile, but rather its high concentration of mercury. The above is an ad (from one of the large supermarket chains in France) for the fish known as Pangas (also called, Pangasius, Vietnamese River Cobbler, Basa Fish and White Catfish, Tra, Gray Sole). It was a reminder to tell you about the dangers of this strange but increasingly … But on the other hand have not affected exports to any great extent. Perceived versus real toxicological safety of pangasius catfish: a review modifying market perspectives. Reviews in Aquaculture. To find out more, read our Privacy Policy. This is important for ensuring that the great uncertainty being generated in the media about aquaculture can be countered by improved public knowledge. 1881/2006 of the Commission, of December 19, 2006), establishing the maximum content of certain contaminants in food products. But a toxicological evaluation carried out by a team of Spanish scientists now shows that the mercury content in some samples exceeds all limits, so the consumption of other fish in the child population is recommended. More information: For the latter, they recommend the consumption of other fish instead of pangasius, also because of its low nutritional contribution. The Basa fish (Pangasius Fillets) is sold as frozen fillets all around Europe. The most surprising result was that none of the suggested toxicological risks were supported with actual data on chemical analysis or intake levels.