HK detects high dioxins in hairy crabs from Jiangsu

(ECNS) -- The Center for Food Safety in Hong Kong said on Tuesday that a random inspection revealed two out of five types of hairy crab samples exceeded the safe level for dioxins and Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs).

The two canerogens in the detected hairy crabs stood at 11.7 and 40.3 pg/g TEQ respectively , much higher than the prescribed level of 6.5pg/g TEQ wet weight.

The spokesman of the centre said the crabs involved were from two aquaculture farms in Jiangsu Province.

It has notified related departments on the mainland to follow up, and suspended hairy crab imports and sales in Hong Kong from these two plants.

Besides, it is reported that the supply of hairy crabs from these two companies take up 70 to 80 percent in the city.

Although eating the hairy crabs would not result in acute toxicosis, chronic toxicosis cannot be ignored, the center noted.

At present, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland have not reached any agreement on the standard of dioxins and DL-PCBs levels based on local and international data.

According to the standard set by Joint Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additivies (JECFA), a provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) for dioxins and DL-PCBs should not exceed 70pg/kg TEQ.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified dioxins and DL-PCBs as human carcinogens. Long-term intake will cause damage to immune systems, reproductive functioning, endocrine and developing nervous systems. Also, it is said that it causes diabetes, thyroid dysfunction and heart disease.

European Union regulations state that in the muscle of fish and related products, the limitation for dioxins is 3.5pg/g wet weight and dioxins and DL-PCBs as 6.5pg/g wet weight, which is only applied to the muscles of crab limbs.