Food Risk Assessment: Malachite Green

Malachite green is a dye that is both carcinogenic and genotoxic (i.e. damaging to DNA). It has been used globally for therapeutic treatment in aquaculture, but is unauthorised for use in food-producing animals in the EU.

EFSA’s Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain assessed the risks to consumers from malachite green in food, particularly in fish, fish products and crustaceans. Specifically, the European Commission asked EFSA to evaluate whether a reference value of 2 micrograms (μg) of malachite green per kilogram of food would adequately protect public health. EFSA’s experts concluded that it is unlikely that exposure to food contaminated with malachite green up to 2μg/kg would represent a health concern.