Mislabeled fish from China prompts FDA warning

Mislabeled fish from China prompts FDA warning The Food and Drug Administration Thursday warned consumers not to buy or eat imported fish labeled as monkfish because they may actually be puffer fish, which contain a potentially deadly toxin called tetrodotoxin.
   The toxin is not destroyed by common food preparation methods.
   The suspected fish was imported and distributed by Hong Chang Corp., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
   Two people in the Chicago area became sick after consuming homemade soup made with the fish, the FDA said.
   A total of 282 22-pound boxes labeled as frozen monkfish were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois, California and Hawaii beginning in September 2006. The fish were then sold to restaurants or sold in stores. In one instance, the retailer labeled the fish as “bok,” the Korean name for puffer fish.
   The FDA allows puffer fish to be imported into the United States only under strict provisions that minimize the risk of the toxin being present in the fish. The recalled fish were not imported in compliance with those restrictions. FDA said it is examining all entries from the Chinese supplier and will take additional action, if warranted.