Sunday - October 02, 2005

Something Else To Worry About

Terrorists, SARS, AIDS, anthrax, mad cows, rabbit disease .... we have enough to worry about in today’s disease-riddled world (not to mention the brain damage which is spreading like wildfire among Democrats, Leftists and France). Now we have to be concerned about hairy crabs ...

Hairy Crabs Seen As Posing Health Risk
TAIWAN (TNO)

In the latest expression of concern over the importation of hairy crabs from China, an opposition legislator said yesterday that the sale of local red crabs had been severely affected and that the imported hairy crabs present a health risk. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) said that compared to three years ago, red crab sales have decreased by 58 percent.

Moreover, since China is considered at risk for cholera cases, the importation of hairy crabs presents an imminent health threat, Lai added. “Each day, about 50,000 hairy crabs are smuggled into Taiwan via Hong Kong,” said Lai. “These contraband crabs all end up in the stomachs of Taiwanese consumers.”

The hairy crab from China is an extremely popular food choice among Taiwanese consumers during the autumn season. Lai noted that even though 116 cases of cholera were reported in China in August, the Taiwan Department of Health has made little effort to thoroughly inspect seafood products from China. For example, only 15 of the 110 shipments of hairy crabs last year were randomly inspected, she said. She stressed that cholera infection cannot be prevented just by cooking the crabs, since people can be easily become infected during the preparation process.

“This lack of inspection is putting our people’s lives in great jeopardy,” Lai claimed. Quarantine section chief of the Center for Disease Control, Lin Wei-Fei, indicated that between 1993-2004 the Taiwanese government enforced stricter cholera inspection standards than any other country concerning perishable items, resulting in only two cholera cases being found in 1997 and 1998, he said.

Lin went on to say, however, that with the rise of many other infectious diseases and the increased workload in the area of disease prevention, cholera inspection was suspended this year. He further noted that the inspections were suspended also because the World Health Organization had not reported any cases of cholera directly linked to food consumption. Lai also said that the number of recorded cases of cholera in China begged greater action on the part of the Taiwan government.

“It is clear to us that the Ministry of Health in China reports over 100 cases of cholera per year,” Lai said. “Why did we stop the inspection last year and why do we continue with the suspension of the process this year?” she asked, adding that “this is extremely irresponsible behavior.” She demanded the Department of Health employ stricter customs controls on imported seafood. If not, the government will be held responsible for its lack of action, she said. Lia’s colleague, TSU legislator Huang Wei-Cher, who was also at the press conference, contended that the Taiwan government “is always a step behind.” “Do we have to wait for problems to occur before we do something?” Huang asked.

Posted by The Skipper     on 10/02/2005 at 11:19 PM   
Filed Under: • Odd-Strange •  
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