Why you should never eat Tilapia? The questionable farming practices of tilapia is a concern you should be aware of before engaging in eating tilapia. Tilapia is a healthy fish, but it is important that the consumer is aware of all common farming practices to make a healthy consumer decision before making it a normal delicacy.
Why you should never eat Tilapia? iStock-photo credit: rez-art
Questionable Farming Practices
There was a report from the FDA that is common for fish farmed in China to be fed feces from livestock animals. Around 73% of tilapia is imported from China to the United States so that feeding feces from livestock animals is a normal and customary practice.
There was another report by the FDA that they rejected over 800 shipments of seafood from China from 2007 to 2012. And about 187 of those shipments were Tilapia. The reason for the rejection is the fish did not meet the safety standards as they were polluted with potentially harmful chemicals including veterinary drug residues and unsafe additives.
China is the world’s largest producer of Tilapia. They produce over 1.6 million metric tons annually and provide the majority of United States tilapia imports.
Another concern or issue of farmed tilapia is the presence of Vibrio vulnificus. This is a bacterium that can cause necrosis of the flesh and sepsis. In 2016 a woman from Bellevue, Washington picked up fresh Tilapia from a local store and she contracted bacterium from eating it. It is important to say that infection is rare, but the risk of consuming contaminated fish might outweigh the potential benefits.
I can say on a personal level I ate tilapia fish on two separate occasions and had food poisoning both times. After that experience I made a decision to not eat tilapia or any type of fish anymore. I am not saying this will happen to you, but it is important to be aware of the data and statistics of some of the questionable unsafe farming practices when it comes to Tilapia in China.
Now here are the positive health benefits of a 3.5 ounce of Tilapia:
- Calories- 128
- Carbs- 0 grams
- Protein- 26 grams
- Fats- 3 grams
- Niacin- 24% of the RDI
- Vitamin B12- 31% of the RDI
- Phosphorus- 20% of the RDI
- Selenium- 78% of the RDI
- Potassium- 20% of the RDI
Some of the vitamins and minerals in Tilapia are niacin, Vitamin B12, phosphorus, selenium, and potassium. Omega 3 fatty acids is one of the biggest health reasons why people eat fish. Omega 3 fatty acids are healthy fats that are known to lower inflammation and blood triglycerides.
Fish such as wild salmon, trout, albacore tuna and sardines contain the largest amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. Tilapia contains 10 times less Omega 3 fatty acids than wild salmon. Tilapia only contains 240 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids per serving.
The Bottom Line is the reasons why you should be cautious of eating Tilapia is the questionable farming practices in China. China is the world’s largest producer of Tilapia. There was a report that it is common from the FDA that fish farmed in China was fed feces from livestock animals.
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About Author- Obi Obadike
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References
- USDA- https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/44390/eib-52.pdf?v=4844.7
- Mori TA, Beilin LJ. Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2004 Nov;6(6):461-7. doi: 10.1007/s11883-004-0087-5. PMID: 15485592.
- Eslick GD, Howe PR, Smith C, Priest R, Bensoussan A. Benefits of fish oil supplementation in hyperlipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cardiol. 2009 Jul 24;136(1):4-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.03.092. Epub 2008 Sep 6. PMID: 18774613.
- Kris-Etherton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ; American Heart Association. Nutrition Committee. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2002 Nov 19;106(21):2747-57. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000038493.65177.94. Erratum in: Circulation. 2003 Jan 28;107(3):512. PMID: 12438303.
