M'sian tilapia safe to eat: Fisheries Dept

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian tilapia fish is safe to eat, assures the Malaysian Fisheries Department.
In a statement here today, the department rubbished an allegation in the social media that the tilapia fish should not be eaten as it would cause cancer.
"There is no scientific article inside and outside of the country regarding reports that there are cancer cells in the flesh of the tilapia.
"There is also no scientific report concerning the use of hormone-mixed fish pellets and growth booster agent in the country's fishing industry," it said.
According to the statement, the department under the Agriculture Residue Monitoring Programme had conducted a fish quality monitoring programme at farm-level to ensure fish and its products were free from pollution and safe to eat.
It said most tilapia fish breeders currently used tilapia strains which had been improved through selective breeding and hybrid to increase growth rates.
"Therefore, the use of hormones and growth boosting agent is unnecessary and it will increase the operating cost," said the statement. — Bernama