Australia’s food watchdog has ordered a brand of frozen seafood be urgently pulled from stores over contamination fears.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand issued the recall after banned chemical nitrofurazone was detected in ASO United’s cooked scampi shrimp.
The product has been available for sale in Asian grocers and independent retail stores in Victoria.
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The recall affects 1kg packets with a best before date of March 28, 2028.
“Food products containing Nitrofurazone (SEM) may cause illness/injury if consumed,” the FSANZ recall reads.
“Consumers should not eat this product. Consumers should return the product(s) to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.”
Nitrofurazone is an antimicrobial agent classified as a genotoxic carcinogen and is strictly prohibited for use in food-producing animals across Australia and New Zealand, according to FSANZ.
It is banned from use in domestic agriculture, and there must not be any detectable residue limits permitted in foods, including imported seafood and aquaculture products.
ASO United’s Cooked Scampi Shrimp pulled from shelves over contamination fears Credit: FSANZ
On its website, ASO United claims to undertake “strict screening and checks on product quality, origin, production process, and hygiene inspection”.
