Jakarta, On social networks, there is a lot of information circulating that mentions catfish as
the ugliest fish. In a mouthful of catfish meat, there are 3000 cancer cells. Really?
The nickname as the filthiest fish refers to the nature of catfish that likes to eat
all kinds of waste in the water. Even an article that is quite viral on the internet
mentions that human waste is also used as feed for a catfish farm in Haikou City, China.
Meanwhile in their natural habitat, catfish or catfish are also known as fish species that
very tough. This fish is equipped with an additional breathing apparatus in the form of a labyrinth,
so that they can survive in muddy or even polluted water conditions.
Presumably, this fact has led to allegations of accumulation of carcinogenic toxins (cancer causing) in the body of catfish.
Fortunately, catfish on the market do not come from the wild.
Many catfish are cultivated in ponds, which should be controlled so that they are free from pollution.
The feed given can also be chosen, not having to rely on waste.
To be sure, the popularity of this murmured fish has never faded, in fact continues to increase. Data from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) shows that catfish production in 2013 reached 543,461 tons, an increase from 441,217 tons in 2012 and 337,577 tons in 2011.
Catfish consumption according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) was recorded at 29.98 kg / capita / year, up from 22.58 kg / capita / year in 2004. In Jakarta, no less than 6000 stalls of catfish pecel have been registered with the Association of Street Vendors. Indonesia (APKLI).
Regarding the nutritional content, it is undeniable that catfish is a cheap source of valuable protein. The fact that catfish is also low in cholesterol is likely to drown out accusations that catfish can cause cancer. "Currently there is no research that states that eating catfish can trigger cancer," said Dr. Dradjat R Suardi, SpB(K)Onk, a cancer expert from the Indonesian Oncology Association when contacted by detikHealth, Friday (23/10/2015).