Vietnamese catfish recalled after missing required tests

A U.S. seafood company is recalling 25,760 pounds of frozen fish fillets from Vietnam that were distributed without first meeting food safety requirements.   

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said California-based U.S. Cado Holdings Inc. is recalling a batch of skinless, boneless Swai fish fillets, also known as Vietnamese catfish, that was produced and packaged on March 30 in Vietnam. The Sea Queen-branded fish were shipped to grocer Aldi’s distribution centers in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

{mosads}Only 2-pound (32-oz.) packages that bear plant number FN1158, lot number SW1601-02-16090, and have a “best by” date of March 30, 2018 are included in the recall.

USDA said the product entered the U.S. market without first passing required residue sampling and testing. The agency said there have been no reports of adverse reactions from consuming the fish.

In a statement, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) slammed the Obama administration for pushing Congress to pass a trade deal that encourages seafood imports.

“Rather than standing up to foreign corporations that do not have any regard for the health and safety of Americans, the Administration is continuing its fight to lower our food standards,” she said. “ We do not need toxic catfish and we certainly do not need toxic trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”

In addition to the trade deal, there’s a vicious fight on Capitol Hill over catfish.

Domestic catfish farmers are fighting a House resolution, which passed the Senate last month, to shift the responsibility of inspecting imported seafood from the USDA back to the Food and Drug Administration.

Groups that represent the fishing industry claim the change will make imported seafood unsafe.