Wednesday, 26 November 2003

IMPORTED PRAWNS SAFE

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today reassured consumers that imported prawns were not a public health risk.

FSANZ Chief Scientist, Dr Marion Healy said that alarmist claims made on Channel 7’s Today Tonight program that residues of a nitrofuran antibiotic in imported prawns could kill were totally unfounded.

‘FSANZ is confident that imported prawns currently on sale are safe. We have instructed the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to test imported prawns for nitrofuran residues. Following overseas reports we have also asked AQIS to test imported honey for nitrofurans. Any products found to contain nitrofurans will not be permitted for sale in Australia.

‘It is very disappointing that such scaremongering has raised unnecessary concerns with consumers. FSANZ has distributed information to retailers and we have also placed it on our website.

‘I can reassure consumers that FSANZ, working with the states and territories and AQIS, will continue to ensure that imported and locally produced food will to be safe for consumers,’ Dr Healy concluded.

For more information: www.foodstandards.gov.au

Media contact: Lydia Buchtmann   FSANZ (02) 6271 2620 or 0401 714 265 mobile