Why Chinese fish can send you to early grave

Chinese fish

Chinese fish are increasingly flooding Kenyan market disguised as a local catch which many consume at restaurants in urban areas.

There is a growing consumer concerns over fish imports from China and helplessness by the standards agency to enforce safety.

Survival tactics have involved among Gikomba Market fish traders who sell Chinese fish openly but after repackaging them to conceal their origin.

Image result for chinese fish

The process involves removing the frozen pieces from the packed boxes that come with a two-year expiry date.

After repacking, they are transported to various locations by handcarts. The traders dupe Kenyans that the fish are from Lake Victoria.

Laboratory tests have revealed that fish imported from China have traces of mercury, lead, arsenic and copper, subjecting millions to health risks.

Image result for chinese fish

However, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has denied that the fish pose any danger to human health.

Kebs maintained tests on fish samples from various sources at its accredited laboratories did not find any lead, copper or mercury.

“All imports to Kenya are required to be tested at the country of origin; and if they meet the specifications in the standards they are issued with a certificate of conformity. Upon arrival in Kenya, the imports are subjected to destination inspection,” the agency said.

Fish imports are not subjected to further laboratory tests once they arrive in the country. Kenya has therefore left fish consumers at the mercy of Chinese-approved agents.

Local traders prefer Chinese fish due to their affordability, with a box of about 60 pieces retailing at Sh2,700 among wholesale traders. A piece of medium-sized fish from Lake Victoria costs around Sh400.

Students at University of Nairobi

Though the levels of contamination with heavy metals such as lead, mercury, copper and arsenic are within the United Nations’ maximum permissible standards limits, their presence and long-term effects in the human body pose serious health concerns.

Samples of Chinese fish imports were recently subjected to University of Nairobi’s Public Health and Pharmacology laboratory tests and traces of lead, copper, mercury and arsenic were found in the fish.

The results confirmed residues of 0.04 ppm of lead, o. 005 ppm of mercury, >0.001 ppm of arsenic and 1.2 ppm of copper, indicating possible contamination of the water ponds used to farm these fish, which are later imported into the region.

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