JOONGANG DAILY ; Cancer chemical scare spreads to turtle farms...

JOONGANG DAILY (Seoul, S Korea) 26 October 05 Cancer chemical scare spreads to turtle farms (Yoo Jee-ho )
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries announced yesterday that the cancer-causing chemical malachite green had been detected in three snapping turtles at a turtle farm in Gwangju.
The discovery comes less than a month after 34 domestic fish farms were found to have been using hazardous substances in raising trout and carp.
All 34 farms were ordered to temporarily cease operations.
Although there is no specific limit on malachite green content in fish here, the substance has been designated a toxic chemical in Korea, and compounds carrying that designation are not allowed to be used in food products.
The ministry said a test showed that the turtles contained between 0.06 parts per million and 0.48 parts per million of malachite green.
The ministry ordered the farm in question to halt all shipments immediately, and plans to examine all snapping turtles currently on the market. Any found to contain malachite green or other hazardous substances will be destroyed.
The ministry also said it would hold a sample inspection of 27 of the nation's 135 snapping turtle farms. If dangerous chemicals are found at a majority of the farms, the ministry plans to halt all deliveries of snapping turtles nationwide.
Snapping turtles are a popular dish in Korea, where the food is believed to boost stamina.
Nearly 135 tons of snapping turtles are raised here annually, and more than 220 tons are imported annually.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200510/25/200510252220494739900090509051.html

CHOSUN ILBO (Seoul, S Korea) 25 October 05 Cancer Agent Found in Korean Turtles
Domestic soft-shelled turtles have been found contaminated with the carcinogenic dye malachite green, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said Tuesday. The revelation comes on the heels of an uproar over news that the cancer agent was found in domestic freshwater fish.
“We found malachite green at a turtle farm in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, and all shipments from the farm were immediately halted,” said Lee Seon-jun, an official with the ministry. Authorities will inspect soft-shelled Turtles in the market in consultation with the Korea Food and Drug Administration.
Lee said the ministry started checking 27 turtle farms out of 135 nationwide. If the dye, illegally used as a disinfectant at aqua farms, is widely found, all shipments of soft-shell turtles will be stopped. The ministry has been checking all fish farms for malachite green, but with only 47 testing kits, the investigation is progressing slowly.
A total of 135 tons of soft-shell turtle was domestically produced last year, and another 222 tons imported. About 70 percent of the turtles are consumed as food and the remainder released into rivers as part of Buddhist ceremonies.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200510/200510250023.html