Environment Ministry thwarts attempt to release

Arsenic contaminated stock of canned fish

• The arsenic content in the stock was found to be 1.3 milligrams per kilo whereas the permissible limit is one milligram per kilo  
• The arsenic content was found to be 1.3 milligrams per kilo in the stock whereas the permissible limit is one milligram per kilo
• such contaminated canned fish cannot be allowed even to be used as animal feed or manure

By Kelum Bandara   

The Environment Ministry has thwarted an attempt to release a stock of canned fish contaminated with arsenic, a harmful heavy metal, above permissible level to the market for composting or animal feed manufacturing,an official said.   

  The stock valued at US.$ 215,000 had been imported in 2021 but not released to the market after it was found to be contaminated with arsenic.   

 Ministry Secretary Prabhath Chandrakeerthi told Daily Mirror that he had issued instructions to return the consignment to where it was imported from, without releasing it to the local market for any purpose.   

He said the arsenic content was found to be 1.3 milligrams per kilo in the stock whereas the permissible limit is one milligram per kilo .   

“We cannot allow such contaminated canned fish even to be used as animal feed or manure,” he said.   

According to an official of the Food Control and Administration Unit of the Department of Health, the permissible level of Arsenic varies according to food types. The official who wished to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to talk to the press said the total arsenic level - organic and inorganic - had been declared one milligram for canned fish in Sri Lanka.

“From country to country , the permissible level varies. In some countries it is five milligrams per kilo and two milligrams in others. We have declared it as one milligram because ours is a country plagued with rare kidney disease caused by heavy metal contamination,” he said.