Attention tinned sardine lovers (Hi!) and posh-palette cats: Six more brands have been pulled off of Malaysia’s supermarket shelves after health authorities made the stomach-churning discovery that they contained worms.
Earlier this year, two Chinese brands, TL Tan Lung and TLC were recalled after the health ministry found roundworms swimming amidst the tomato sauce.
After the discovery of similar infestations in another half-dozen brands, all imports of tinned fish have subsequently been put on hold while the ministry combs through sundry products, looking to see if they too have been infected with the same worms.
Cinta, Sea Fresh, HS Brand, King Cup, Star and TC Boy brands were all found to contain the same filum nematode worms found in the spp genus Anisakis spp.
The recent worm discovery was made in products that were sitting at a container terminal in Penang.
A hold, test, and release model is now in actions, taking samples for analyses, with products being green-lit only if their samples come back clean.
Local products will not be effected as the ministry verifies production methods and hygiene before the products are released into the market.
Before you turn to your gastroenterologist complaining of that queasy stomach we just gave you, health officials are telling the public that any risks are low, as the worms are killed by the cooking and canning process.
Ok — but, still — WORMS.
Sending a message to all the shady distributors out there realizing that a whole lotta potentially contaminated, though essentially benign, tins of fish just flooded the market, health officials are here to remind you that doing that is very, very illegal.
Turns out that Section 13 of the Food Act 1983 is out here to warn everyone involved in importing, distributing, storing or selling food with toxic, damaging or otherwise harmful substances, that it’s an offense!
Conviction means a fine of up to RM100,000 or prison for up to ten years, or both!
