RIYADH, 24 January 2003 — The Commerce Ministry has banned imports of poultry and fish products of seven foreign companies after they were found to be containing toxic substances.
The chemicals were detected by the laboratories of King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center as well as the ministry’s quality control department, Al-Watan daily reported quoting a high-level source at the hospital.
Laboratory tests have proved that a brand of Brazilian chicken products contained remnants of nitrofuran, a banned chemical. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year banned the use of topical nitrofuran in farm animals based on evidence that it may result in the presence of residues that are carcinogenic.
Tests have also detected banned hormones in fish products of two Chinese companies and three Thai and Singaporean companies, the paper said.
