Gentian violet residue behind recall of catfish products by FSIS

The announcement was made on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Haring Catfish Inc is the country’s first domestic seafood producer to issue a voluntary recall because of the use of antibiotics in their farm-raised fish, says Seafood News.

Frozen farm-raised catfish recalled for potential chemical contamination#foodrecall #foodsafety

— Food Safety News (@foodsafetynews) July 15, 2016

The siluriformes (catfish) products were produced on June 28 and 29, 2016, and bear establishment number “EST. 51217” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The problem with the fish was discovered on July 11 after routine FSIS sampling results revealed an unacceptable level of the chemical gentian violet in the product, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

The following products are subject to recall:
*11-lb. cardboard boxes of IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) catfish tails in plastic wrapping identified as HARING CATFISH and having Lot Code 2140 printed on the label;
*15-lb. cardboard boxes of IQF catfish steaks, irregular fillets, whole fish, strips, nuggets and partially gutted fish in plastic wrapping identified as HARING CATFISH and having Lot Code 2140 printed on the label; and
*30-lb. cardboard boxes of IQF catfish steaks, irregular fillets, whole fish, strips, nuggets and partially gutted fish in plastic wrapping identified as HARING CATFISH and having Lot Code 2140 printed on the label.

The recalled items were shipped to retail locations and hotels, restaurants, and institutions in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Consumers are advised to not consume these products and either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

There have been no reports of injury or illness related to the consumption of the recalled products. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Dottie Walker, at (318) 724-6133 ext. 119.

Gentian violet, commonly known as crystal violet has been used for years as a stain in the histology and bacteriology laboratory. In the late 1890’s it was discovered that the dye had antiseptic properties.

Gentian violet is not allowed to be used in any products for human consumption. Notice what it says on the label about using Blu-Kote on horses intended for human consumption.

NIH

But by 1902, further studies revealed that while the dye inhibited the growth of many bacteria, it has little effect on Bacillus coli (Escherichia coli) and Bacillus Typhi (Salmonella typhi), which are both Gram-negative bacteria.

But based on toxicity studies that showed gentian violet was carcinogenic at different organ sites, the FDA determined that gentian violet was not safe for use in animal feed. On June 28, 2007, the FDA issued an “import alert” on farm-raised seafood from China because unapproved antimicrobials, including gentian violet, had been consistently found in the products.