The Kaohsiung Department of Health yesterday said it had issued a recall for tilapia fillets after an inspection found traces of a banned veterinary drug in samples of the fish.
The fish fillets were supplied by a cooperative in Yunlin county to 369 PX Mart branches across the nation, with 13,793 pieces sold, the PX Mart said, adding that only 1,831 pieces were recalled.
The recall order was issued on Thursday, after samples of the fish taken from a PX Mart in Lujhu District (蘆竹) tested in October were found to contain 0.028 parts per million of enrofloxacin.
Photo courtesy of the Nantou County Public Health Bureau
Enrofloxacin is a bactericide that is legally permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for animal use, but is not approved for aquatic products.
The health department said it found that 24 packets of the tainted tilapia fillets had been sold at the Lujhu store, and instructed the head office of the supermarket chain to pull the product from PX Mart store shelves immediately and ask customers to return the fish they bought.
Customers who purchased the fish can ask for a refund or a replacement by presenting their receipts, the bureau said.
As the fish was supplied by Yunlin County, its Public Health Bureau has been notified of the problem, the department said.
The FDA said excessive ingestion of enrofloxacin could cause an upset stomach or result in kidney problems.
Additional reporting by Huang Shu-li
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