Trace of nitrofuran metabolite found in prepackaged frozen tiger prawn sample

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 29) announced that a trace amount of metabolite of furazolidone (a type of nitrofurans) (AOZ), a non-permitted veterinary drug, was found in a sample of frozen tiger prawn imported from India. Follow-up is in progress.
      
     Details of the product are as follows:
      
Product name: TIGER PRAWN Peeled & Deveined, Tail On
Product brand: ocean gems
Place of origin: India
Importer: Indoguna Lordly Company Limited
Packing: 1 kilogram per pack
Best-before date: March 3, 2020
      
     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the tiger prawn sample at import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained AOZ at a level of 21 parts per billion."
      
     The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and the importer had stopped selling the affected product. The CFS is tracing the source and distribution of the affected product.
      
     "The JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) considered that competent authorities should prevent residues of furazolidone in food," the spokesman said.
      
     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action.