On 3/31/2011 1:03 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> 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.

I understand some big-box stores like wallyworld pump carbon monoxide in
the packaging of their "fresh" meats (beef, pork, etc.) to keep the
color pristine for a longer period of time. Ever notice how those
packages are constructed?? Somehow, using CO seems suspect to me when
it's used for this particular purpose.

Shopping at wallyworld is something I try to avoid for various reasons,
poor quality meats being one of those. Not to mention, their produce is
some of the worst I've seen - ever!

Sky

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