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What is malachite green?Malachite green is a synthetic dye used
to colour silk, wool, jute, leather, cotton and paper. The name
comes from the similarity of colour of malachite green to the
mineral, malachite. Malachite green has
traditionally been used to treat fungal infections on fish eggs.
Leucomalachite, produced through thetransformation of malachite
green, may persist in fish tissues for long periods.
Can malachite green be used in Canadian aqualculture?
Malachite green can not be present in fish destined for human
consumption. A Health Canada risk
assessment in 1992 determined that the potential carcinogenic
properties of malachite green rendered it
unsuitable for use on food fish. As a result, Health Canada will
not establish a tolerance level for
malachite green or leucomalachite green. Fish and fish products
containing any level are consideredadulterated food under theFood
and Drugs Act.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) added testing for
malachite green and leucomalachite
green to their seafood program in 2003/04. The CFIA is
responsible for monitoring to ensure that fish
and fish products meet the requirements of theFish Inspection
Actand theFood and Drugs Act. In 2005,traces of malachite green or
its metabolite, leucomalchite green were detected in farmed salmon
and trout
in Canada and in imported farmed fish. However, most sampling
results have been negative, indicating
that the presence of malachite green does not appear to be wide
spread. Each incident where trace levelsof malachite green was
found has been thoroughly investigated and the appropriate action
was taken to
detain or prevent unconsumed product from entering the food
chain.
Health Canada's Veterinary Drug Directorate approves the sale
of, and ensures that all drugs sold inCanada for use in animals are
safe, and that the proper use does not result in harmful residue
levels in
human foods. There are only three fungicide/disinfectants
approved for food fish use in Canada:
formaldehyde, high salt concentrations and hydrogen
peroxide.
Is malachite green toxic?
There are no known or expected human health effects from
consuming fish products at the low levelsdetected by the CFIA in
farmed salmon and trout. Health Canada has classified malachite
green
contamination in fish as a Class II Health Hazard which means
the probability of adverse health
consequences is considered remote. As there is no immediate risk
to human health, Health Canada is notrecommending any specific
course of action to consumers who may have eaten the contaminated
fish.
Research has indicated that malachite green can be toxic to
human cells and promotes livertumor
formation in rodents. Due to potentiallyharmful human health
effects, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administrationnominated malachite green as a priority chemical
for toxicity and carcinogenicity
testing
in 1993. The results of the rodent studies found liver toxicity,
anemia and thyroid abnormalities. The
significance of these results to human health is unknown at this
time. It is very unlikely that adverseeffects will result by eating
fish with the very low levels of malachite green and leucomalachite
green
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detected. Other countries have established minimum performance
levels for sampling. The levels
reported in Canada fall well below the European threshold of 2
parts per billion.
Why is malachite green still found in fish?
Malachite green is inexpensive, effective and readily available
for other, non-aquaculture uses, and
continues to be used in many parts of the world due to lack of
an authorized alternative. Alternative
therapeutic drugs are approved for aquaculture use in other
countries, such as Japan and the EuropeanUnion, which export a
large percent of the aquacultural products consumed in North
America.
Regulations and laws that differ from country to country can
also lead to detection and enforcementdifficulties.
Information Sources:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Animal Products Directorate,
Fish, Seafood and Production. (2005,
June 6). Communique: non-permitted (banned, unapproved)
therapeutants. Retrieved June 29,2005, from
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/commun/com06_06_05e.shtml
Culp, S.J. (2004). NTP technical report on the toxicity studies
of malachite green chloride andleucomalachite green (CAS Nos.
569-64-2 and 129-73-7) administered in feed to F344/N rats and
B6C3F1 mice. Retrieved June 29, 2005, from
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/ST_rpts/tox071.pdf
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO-IOC/WMO/WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of
Experts on the
Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). (1997).
Towards safe and effective use of
chemicals in coastal aquaculture. Reports and Studies, GESAMP.
No. 65. Rome, Italy: FAO.Retrieved June 29, 2005, from
http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/003/w6435e.htm
Rao, K.V.K. (1995). Inhibition of DNA synthesis in primary rat
hepatocyte cultures by malachite green: a
new liver tumor promoter. Toxicology Letters. 81: 107-113.
Srivastava, S., Sinha, R. & Roy, D. (2004). Toxicological
effects of malachite green. AquaticToxicology. 66(3):319-329.
Staniford, D. (2002). A big fish in a small pond: The global
environmental and public health threat of sea
cage fish farming. Paper presented at Sustainability of the
salmon industry in Chile and theworld,: Workshop organised by the
Terram Foundation and the Universidad de los Lagos in
Puerto Montt, Chile. June 5& 6, 2002. Retrieved June 29,
2005, from http://www.watershed-
watch.org/ww/publications/sf/BigFishSmallPond(Chile).pdf
For more information on malachite green or other food safety
topics, please call the Food SafetyNetwork toll-free at
1-866-50-FSNET or visit our website at www.foodsafetynetwork.ca
Although we strive to make the information on this fact sheet
helpful and accurate, we make no representation or warranty,
express or implied, regarding such information, and disclaim all
liability of any kind whatsoever arising out of use of, or
failureto use, such information or errors or omissions on this fact
sheet.
Copyright 2005 University of Guelph
June 30, 2005
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/commun/com06_06_05e.shtmlhttp://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/ST_rpts/tox071.pdfhttp://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/003/w6435e.htmhttp://www.watershedwatch.org/ww/publications/sf/BigFishSmallPond(Chile).pdfhttp://www.watershedwatch.org/ww/publications/sf/BigFishSmallPond(Chile).pdfhttp://www.watershedwatch.org/ww/publications/sf/BigFishSmallPond(Chile).pdfhttp://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/003/w6435e.htmhttp://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/ST_rpts/tox071.pdfhttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/commun/com06_06_05e.shtml
