Several areas in eastern China have banned sales of turbot, a popular type of flatfish, after some were found to contain carcinogens caused by chemical-laden feed, state media said.
Authorities in Shandong, the country’s main producer of the fish prized for its delicate flavor, had banned turbot sales throughout the province, the Xinhua news agency said.
Some cities along China’s east coast, including Shanghai and nearby Hangzhou, also ordered sales bans, local newspapers in the region reported.
The bans come after food safety officials in Shanghai announced Friday they had found cancer-causing residues in 30 turbot, Xinhua said.
Due to their low resistance to disease, turbot are sometimes fed large quantities of medicines, which leave harmful, cancer-causing residues in their flesh, Xinhua said.
Shandong officials have ordered a crackdown on farmers feeding turbot the illegal chemicals, according to Xinhua.
The case is the latest example of "severe food security problems" in China, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Other recent food safety scares have included the discovery of parasite-infested snails, steroid-tainted pork, and ducks that were fed a cancer-causing dye to redden the yolks of their eggs, a popular dish.
Unsanitary conditions, improper handling of food, and questionable use of agriculture chemicals sicken countless people annually in China. Food poisoning cases in schools occur almost weekly.
The eyes of a turbot. These small flatfish, 6 to 12 inches, belong to the group of bottom fish known as right-eyed flounders. They are generally found on a bottom consisting of sand or mud and a depth of over 20 feet.
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