Yesterday I bought what I thought was frozen bass. I have just taken it out of the freezer and saw that it was fish named Basa.
Googled it to find out what it was. Apparently there is a warning out about eating this fish. Needless to say it is going into the bin.
This brief BBC report may reassure you http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/a_fish_called_river_cobbler.html (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/a_fish_called_river_cobbler.html)
The most gruesome warnings seem to originate on a website called "Diet Mind Spirit", written by someone called cate (with a lower case c). The website has been inactive for nearly a year, so perhaps cate has grown up and moved on. It all sounded like unscientific nonsense to me, so I'd happily eat Basa or Panga. Indeed I very probably have done so in restaurants.
Was going to post the same thing as Melbourne.
We have been eating Basa for a while now, ever since we first saw it about 3 years ago, Very nice it is too. Delicate flavour and NO BONES.
Searched everywhere I can and apart from saying that the Farms where it is raised in Vietnam are not subject to Gov't control and inspection I can find no health warnings about it.
If that is the fish they term as freshwater cod, I have been eating it quite happily for a couple of years. Don't throw it away just because somebody on the internet doesn't like it.
Thanks for the info. I have been reading many accounts both for and against the fish and its source. I have decided in this case to err on the side of caution. I have phoned the store and they will give me a refund.
A lot of this applies to all farmed fish, so you'd better aviod farmed prawns and salmon too.......
Oh and anything from the North Sea, mercury seasoning anyone?
The hormone might be the same one used in the pill which can be derived from pregant horse urine :o :'( >:(
So glad that we love our veggies.
Ive used basa for vietnamese fish currries, seems ok to me.
on a lighter note, im afraid toask how they make this condiment and what its used for
(http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/ekmps/shops/asiancookshop/images/thingy-flavoured-seasoning-100g-4623-p.png)
http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/thingy-flavoured-seasoning-100g-4623-p.asp
Indeed! I was watching Russell Howard earlier and he had as a guest the chap responsible for this stuff. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arts/article-1357859/The-REAL-eau-toilet-Artist-makes-perfume-excesses-body.html) Lovely!