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HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

EMPIRE’S CHOICE GRILLED EEL MAY CONTAIN NITROFURANS AND MALACHITE GREEN RESIDUES

OTTAWA, March 24, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Viandex Inc. are warning the public not to consume Empire’s Choice Grilled Eel described below because the product may be contaminated with Nitrofurans, Malachite Green (MG), and Leucomalachite Green (LMG) residues.

The affected product, Empire’s Choice Grilled Eel, a product of Taiwan, is sold frozen in 227 g (8 oz) packages. This product has been distributed in the Quebec city area.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Nitrofurans are antimicrobial drugs which are banned for use in Canada in food producing animals. Consumption of foods contaminated with nitrofurans may pose a human health risk related to the toxicity of the drug.

Malachite Green is not approved in Canada for use as a therapeutant in any food producing animal including fish and fish products. Scientific evidence indicates that elevated levels of Leucomalachite Green (LMG), a metabolite of Malachite Green (MG), may pose a risk to human health.

The importer, Viandex Inc., Quebec City, Quebec is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.

The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Jean Gagné, Viandex Inc. at 418-681-2482.

CFIA at 1 800 442-2342 / TTY 1 800 465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on receiving recalls by electronic mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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