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Debunking the Catfish-Kidney Failure Connection: Health Experts Weigh In
Viral social media posts claiming that catfish consumption causes kidney failure have been circulating widely since March, sparking concern among consumers. The claims stem from a statement by BPJS Kesehatan Director General Ali Ghufron Mukti, who noted an alarming rise in chronic kidney failure treatment costs from Rp6.5 trillion in 2019 to Rp11 trillion in 2024.
Mukti’s mention of antibiotics in catfish as a potential trigger for kidney disease was quickly amplified by content creators, including a widely shared video featuring a woman in a lab coat. The video spread rapidly across multiple platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, further cementing public perception of the alleged connection.
However, medical and aquaculture experts interviewed by Tempo have firmly rejected this claim, labeling it as misleading and lacking scientific foundation.
Dr. RA Adaninggar Primadia Nariswari, an internal medicine specialist at Surabaya General Hospital, emphasized that diabetes and hypertension remain the primary causes of kidney failure in adults. “There’s no data that catfish cause kidney disease,” she told Tempo last Friday.
The specialist further explained that while some antibiotics can be nephrotoxic (damaging to kidneys), the likelihood of antibiotic residues in catfish causing kidney damage is extremely small. Such damage typically requires specific dosages and usually affects individuals with underlying conditions such as diabetes or uncontrolled hypertension.
“The possibility of kidney failure due to antibiotics from catfish is very remote,” Dr. Nariswari stated.
This medical assessment is supported by aquaculture experts who dispute the claim that catfish are routinely injected with antibiotics. Veryl Hasan, an aquaculture lecturer at Airlangga University’s Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, estimated that antibiotic use in catfish farming is minimal—less than two percent of operations—and strictly limited to emergency situations such as disease outbreaks.
“It’s impossible to inject thousands of catfish individually,” Hasan explained to Tempo, noting that the practice would be both cost-prohibitive and impractical for farmers managing large quantities of fish. When antibiotics are used, they’re typically administered through immersion rather than injection.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has clarified that injection methods in fish farming are reserved for vaccines, not antibiotics. The ministry’s residue tests conducted throughout 2023 and 2024 in major production centers including West Java, East Java, and Central Java found no traces of oxytetracycline or chloramphenicol antibiotics in catfish samples.
Instead of catfish consumption, health authorities point to more established risk factors for the rising kidney failure cases in Indonesia. BPJS Kesehatan reports indicate that approximately 30 percent of chronic kidney failure cases are triggered by diabetes and hypertension, with the number of patients expected to reach 640,000 by 2025.
The Ministry of Health has highlighted that excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat significantly increases the risk of developing conditions that lead to kidney disease. Additional risk factors include kidney stones, autoimmune diseases, kidney inflammation, and uncontrolled use of painkillers.
This misinformation surrounding catfish consumption exemplifies how health-related claims can rapidly spread through social media, potentially causing unwarranted public concern and economic damage to agricultural sectors. The catfish industry in Indonesia, which provides affordable protein to millions, could face significant impacts from such unsubstantiated claims.
As health misinformation continues to proliferate online, medical professionals urge the public to verify health claims through reliable sources and consult healthcare providers about genuine risk factors for chronic conditions like kidney disease.
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16 Comments
Glad to see the Disinformation Commission taking the time to investigate this claim thoroughly. Debunking misinformation around health topics is so important.
Agree, the spread of unsubstantiated health claims on social media can be quite harmful. Good to see the facts checked.
As someone who consumes a fair amount of catfish, I’m relieved to see the lack of scientific evidence linking it to kidney disease. Curious what other factors may be contributing to the rise in treatment costs.
Good point. The article doesn’t go into detail on that, but understanding the root causes would be helpful to address the issue effectively.
Interesting to see the experts debunk the viral claims about catfish causing kidney failure. I wonder what the actual drivers are behind the rise in kidney disease treatment costs mentioned. Seems like an important issue to get the facts right on.
Yes, the experts seem clear that diabetes and hypertension are the main culprits, not catfish. Good to see the facts checked on this viral claim.
This highlights the importance of verifying health claims, especially when they start spreading rapidly online. Glad to see the Disinformation Commission taking the time to properly fact-check this issue.
Absolutely, misinformation on health topics can be quite dangerous. Fact-checking is crucial to counter the spread of false claims.
As someone with an interest in food safety, I’m glad to see the experts weigh in and debunk this viral claim about catfish. Looking forward to learning more about the actual drivers behind the rise in kidney disease treatment costs.
Absolutely, understanding the real factors at play is key to addressing this issue effectively. The fact-checking work here is an important step in separating myth from reality.
As someone who enjoys eating catfish, I’m relieved to see the experts dismiss the viral claims about it causing kidney failure. Curious to learn more about the actual reasons behind the increase in kidney disease treatment costs.
Agreed, it’s important to go beyond the viral misinformation and really understand the core issues at play. The experts’ input here is valuable in setting the record straight.
The rise in kidney disease treatment costs is certainly concerning, but it’s clear the catfish claim is not supported by the evidence. Wonder what other factors may be at play driving that increase.
Yes, understanding the real drivers behind the rising costs would be crucial to addressing the problem effectively. Glad the experts were able to dispel the catfish myth.
Kudos to the Disinformation Commission for taking the time to thoroughly fact-check this claim. Spreading accurate information on health topics is so important, especially when viral misinformation is involved.
Yes, their fact-checking work is crucial in countering the spread of unsubstantiated health claims online. Good to see the experts clearly refute the catfish-kidney failure link.