On 3/31/2011 12:17 AM, Nad R wrote:

> Shark and bug foods like like lobster, shrimp also other posters claim of
> crawfish and eels, seems like the only seafood one can get. Hard to imagine
> the oceans are practically fished out. In Michigan, if the DNR did not
> stock the great lakes, they would not have any fish in five years. So if
> you want fish these days it seems pond scum fish from Asia or nothing
> because supermarkets in the US will not buy fish from it's own country.
>
> I noticed even on some bags of Asian Tilapia, the bag states "Carbon
> Monoxide Added For Flavor"? I even learned US companies do the same thing
> and do not put that information on the bag.

Carbon monoxide is typically used to treat ahi to keep the flesh a
bright red color and therefore allow it a longer window of opportunity
of sale in the US. CO is mostly known as a killer of families as they
sleep in the states or as a suicide gas in Japan so "odorless smoke" or
"tasteless smoke" is what they call it here. As far as I know, the
practice is illegal in Japan but the FDA allows it here.

Tilapia is mostly a white fish so my guess is that the effect is not as
dramatic as when treating ahi however, it might be that most of the
tilapia from China is treated with CO. The gas itself is harmless when
used in this application. OTOH, it gives the impression that the fish is
fresher than it really is. OTOH, tilapia is a pretty generic whitefish
and I suspect that it's mostly treated as a commodity item.

>
> It is hard to believe that even the oceans are being fished out.
>
> Pickerel is not bad also. But even the great lake fish has some mercury
> warnings that comes with it. I wonder if the invading Asian Carp is any
> good.
>