Quote Originally Posted by EasternGirl View Post
So now I'm confused...Stefan said that the coloring added to fish is safe and Richard is saying it isn't.
I didn't say it wasn't safe. I just didn't know at all so when I saw that it was labeled "color added" I simply avoided it out of precaution.

Well that sucks about the darn chemicals in your fish Wayne. Still, I don't think that's any reason to condemn any one particular type of fish. Luckily I can buy fresh or frozen tilapia, salmon, steelhead, etc and nothing has beed added (except the steelhead has harmless coloring). I've never seen any sodium phosphates on any labels and certainly haven't had any deaths from preservatives that I know of. I just have to watch out for certain species due to their tendency to contain mercury and PCB's. For that reason, tilapia is the "cleanest". Just have to be certain no phosphates or sodium has been added. I'll say it again, most fish does have a significant amount of sodium naturally. I don't think that's what's causing a problem. Added sodium and certainly phosphates or any preservative is highly suspect. probably wouldn't hurt a mammal one bit, but to a bird or reptile, could be deadly as cyanide and cause rapid renal failure. Reptile / bird kidneys just don't work the same way as ours. They expel solid concentrated urates, not liquid urine. They can't handle excessive sodium and other chemicals that our kidneys expel easily and without harm. Giving them that stuff would be a similar outcome to a human drinking a half gallon of antifreeze. Rapid renal failure.