Kaohsiung: The Kaohsiung City health department announced a recall order for tilapia fillets found to contain traces of a banned veterinary drug, with approximately 4,080 packets already sold before the recall could be enforced.

According to Focus Taiwan, the recall was initiated on November 27 after tests conducted in October detected enrofloxacin, a bactericide permitted for animal use by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) but not approved for aquatic products. The Kaohsiung health department's news release disclosed that samples from a PX Mart supermarket in Luzhu District contained 0.028 parts per million (ppm) of the bactericide.

An inspection of the supermarket on November 27 revealed that 24 packets of the contaminated tilapia fillets had been sold. The supermarket chain's head office was directed to remove the product from PX Mart store shelves and request customers to return the fish that had been sold.

The health department reported that PX Mart stores in Kaohsiung had a total of 4,488 packets of tilapia in stock. Out of these, 4,080 were sold, while 408 packets were withdrawn from the shelves. Customers who purchased the fish can receive a refund or replacement upon presenting their receipts.

The fish was supplied by Yunlin County, and its Public Health Bureau has been informed of the issue. The TFDA warns that excessive ingestion of enrofloxacin could result in stomach upset and kidney problems.