Vietnamese fish seller Châu warns consumers on unsafe fish types

Veteran fish seller Châu, with more than 20 years in the Vietnamese seafood trade, says that low‑price fish can hide serious safety problems. He advises shoppers to avoid four categories: fish that are dead, fish that appear to be breathing but are actually oxygen‑deprived (known locally as “nổi đầu”), fish from unknown wild freshwater sources, and any fish showing signs of disease.

Châu also outlines a “5‑no” rule for selecting fresh fish: do not buy fish with soft, non‑elastic flesh; with a swollen belly or protruding anus; with gray‑colored gills; with a strong, off‑putting odor; or with cloudy, dark eyes. He recommends checking the gill color (bright red is fresh), the eye clarity, the firmness of the flesh when pressed, and the overall appearance of the scales and skin. Following these checks can help consumers avoid contaminated or low‑quality fish.