TILAPIA is one of the most popular and affordable fish in Malaysia, sold almost everywhere as it is good to eat steamed, fried or grilled. As such, any claims about tilapia can cause alarm – especially if it alleges that the fish is in fact dangerous to eat.
Recently, a poster went viral on WhatsApp about this fish; it is claimed in the graphic that tilapia are a skinless, boneless fish that are toxic as their flesh contains harmful chemicals.
Is there any truth to this claim?
VERDICT:
FALSE
In a statement, the Fisheries Department said that the claim is actually false and said that tilapia raised in farms are fed food that is made from plant and fish protein sources.
“According to what is stated in the poster, it is claimed that tilapia are unsafe to eat and can cause cancer. Genetically modified corn and soya have been used to reduce the use of fish meal and this has been approved by the authorities in Norway and the European Union,” said the Department.
It added that genetically modified plant materials have been used widely in the food for salmon, tilapia and carp.
The department then said that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States have not issued any reports stating that tilapia fed on genetically modified corn or soya have harmed the health of those consuming it.
It also said that the Department is currently monitoring over 200 fish farms to ensure the quality of Malaysia's aquaculture industry.
It added that Department director Datuk Adnan Hussain advises the public to not be fooled by this false news, saying that it could threaten the nation's aquaculture industry.
“A total of 37,609 metric tonnes of tilapia were produced in 2021, contributing RM380mil to the national economy,” said the Department.
