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Threadworms in canned mackerel found in Jakarta
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Cans of mackerel, which were reported to contain parasitic worms infectious to humans, are shown at the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in Pekanbaru, Riau, on March 21. (Antara/ FB Anggoro)
The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in Jakarta discovered threadworms inside canned mackerel circulating the city.
“We found threadworms in nine cans of mackerel of the 15 we’ve examined,” said Jakarta BPOM head Sukriadi Darma to kompas.com on Thursday, noting that most of the contaminated products came from reputable brands.
The brands are: ABC, Kingfisher, Botan and Ayam Brand, some of which are produced in Indonesia. However, he said that threadworms in canned mackerel was a natural occurrence.
“In the mackerel’s habitat, there are probably certain kinds of threadworms that can go through and underneath the fish's skin, up to 2 centimeters deep,” Sukriadi said.
“Mackerels are different from sardines. Mackerels don’t live in Indonesian waters. If it was an Indonesian brand, the fish must have been imported from other countries,” he added.
The agency sent a letter to the canned fish manufacturers, ordering them to recall their products starting from March 27.
At least 27 brands of canned fish on the market have been found to be contaminated with threadworms. Sixteen brands are imported while the other 11 are local products, BPOM head Penny Lukito said on Wednesday. (vla)
