Banned drug residue found in Taiwanese fish

Malachite green is a toxic chemical primarily used as a dye but has been found effective in treating parasites, fungal inflections and bacterial infections in fish. Under exisiting Taiwanese regulations, no traces of the drug should be found on fish.

The Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration discovered the banned drug residue after examining fish sold in markets around the nation in May. During the testing, 37 samples of threadfini, tilapia, milkfish and eels were taken from markets in Taichug City, Chiayi County and Keelung City.

Agricultural agencies and local health centers have been asked to track down the fish farms selling the tainted fish, said FDA's Chou Hsiu-kuan.