China has placed a temporary halt on exports of processed eels to Japan after the discovery of the banned substance malachite green.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The antibacterial agent, which is believed to be carcinogenic, was detected in eels at Kobe and Osaka ports on 4 August, prompting China to place a ban on processed eel exports to Japan this week, reported the Financial Times.
Eels, or unagi as they are known, are a popular food in Japan, with the Japanese getting though 150,000 tonnes a year. The country even has a national eel day.
More than 70% of eels that are consumed in Japan are actually imported from China and Taiwan, although many consumers in Japan do not know this, the newspaper reported.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData
