he Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has denied reports that canned sardine marketed domestically is tainted with heavy metals.
“We give assurances that the egg- or crystal-like substance [found in fish] is not a result of heavy metal contamination,” said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Research and Human Resources Agency (BRSDMKP) head Zulficar Mochtar in Jakarta on Thursday, as reported by tribunnews.com. He explained that the substance was known as Glugea sardinellensis, a type of protozoa.
He said the substance was found in the stomach of sardines and could grow up to 18 millimeters.
Meanwhile, Maritime and Fishery Products Director General Nilanto Perbowo called on the public to ignore fake reports, saying that sardine was hygienically processed before being canned.
“Canned fish produced in Indonesia is safe to consume. It is not contaminated by heavy metal or any other dangerous material,” he added. (bbn)
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