Buyer Beware: 'A Fish Called Panga'

Pangasius fish, or as it is most commonly referred to as 'Pangas,' is compared in taste by some that of cod or catfish. A broad, not to mention subjective contrast. This is not your Grandfathers freshly-caught catfish, or anything like Grandma use to make. Please read on about its possible dangers of eating a 'Fish Called Pangas.'

The Pangas Comes From Loosely Monitored Industrial Farms

The Pangasius is a loosely monitored industrially farmed fish in Vietnam from the waters of the Mekong River. These farms divert water from the Mekong River causing many ecological hazards and generate a myriad if waste within its own industry. The Mekong River mind you, is one of the most polluted river in the world. Some of the polluted contaminates that the fish are infused with during the course of their raising are as follow:

Toxic and hazardous by-products of the growing near-by industrial sector
Arsenic
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
DDT and its metabolites (DDTs)
Metal contaminants
Chlordane-related compounds (CHLs)
Hexachlorocyclohexane Isomers (HCHs)
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

The Pangas Is Neighbors With Toxic Polluters

One of the biggest reason for all the above listed contaminates is due to the largely growing neighboring industrial sector that simply dump chemicals and industrial waste directly into the Mekong River. Many diligent reports have been made about the Pangas, however regardless of how many reports are made and the strong advice as to not eating them, fish-markets and grocers are still selling them in record numbers to unsuspecting consumers and restaurant buyers.

The USA Weans Off Of The Pangas Fish

At one time the US had a strong-hold on the Pangas fish market and possessed a significant portion of the Pangas fish export market share. However, many heeding the advice of the above mentioned reports, the United States have now taken the river less traveled by weaning off the Pangas fish market share from 80 percent, down to as low as a 4 percent market share.

The French Put A Fork In The Pangas Fish

European Union countries did not however heed the reports, and now account for a significant export market, with a share of 35 percent. The French is grabbing this fish up from the supermarkets fish counter displays as fast as bottled water is getting grabbed off the streets in Haiti. When it comes very cheap, de-boned and filleted; the French rave!

"I'll Have The Pangas Fish," Wee-wee Monsieur!

Some apparent mad bio-engineer in China came up with the idea of injecting hormones that are derived from that of urine. This urine infused hormone comes from pregnant women and injected into the Pangas as to increase the fertility and growth of the Pangasius species of fish. Are you hungry for some Pangas fish yet? As if man did not play enough in the roll of this 'Frankenfish' if you will, by the dumping of industrial chemical waste into the Mekong River.

Its A Pangas Fish Eats Pangas Fish World

Think that you already read enough about the Pangas fish and man's negative involvement with said species? There is more! The Pangas is fed dead fish remnants and bones from Peru, that are then sent to South America where they are ground into a flour, along with manioc (cassava) which are the remnants of soy and grain by-products. Let's break it down; the Pangas fish are raised in Vietnam, check; the hormones come from China, check; the food comes from Peru, check; it is then sent off to South America, check; where it then hits the shelves of grocers in France, check. Now if that is not one gigantic carbon foot-print, I do not know what is!

Stop Telling Me About This Pangas Fish Creature

One last interesting tid-bit of information about the Pangas fish. Before shipment of Pangas fish from Vietnam to the European Union countries; it is stored, then frozen within the very same water it comes out of from the Mekong River. Be sure to ask exactly what type of fish you're buying and or being served in a restaurant when it comes at such an attractive price while in the EU.

Bon Appetit!

Sources: WWF
Eco-Diner