Friday, October 17, 2008

Fish Pedicure Is Now an Outlaw in Texas

Filed under: in the news...

We have terrible news to report. "Fish pedicures" or "doctor fish" procedures, that we reported on back in August, have now been banned in at least two states. Authorities in Washington and Texas are unhappy with the communal insertions of stinky feet into aquariums primarily for sanitary reasons.

The following is from a statement by the ever watchful Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation:

The issue is whether cosmetology and barber establishments may offer this procedure in Texas.

TDLR concludes that this procedure is not permitted in Texas under TDLR’s health and safety rules.
TDLR researched the health and safety aspects of the procedure, including seeking the opinion of officials at the Texas Department of State Health Services. Based on this research, we believe that the procedure poses an undue risk to public health and is not consistent with TDLR’s health and safety rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code, Sections 82.100 – 82.114 (barber) and 83.100 – 83.114 (cosmetology). TDLR rules do not permit this procedure because the same fish are used on multiple customers and could transmit infectious diseases. Additionally, the use of live fish does not allow for the footbaths and the holding tank for the fish to be adequately cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the rules ...

We are not convinced, though. We want to see the data!

Press release...

Image credit: deckchua @ Flickr: Fish Spa @ Manila Ocean Park...

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replies: 3 comments
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When fish pedicures are outlawed only outlaws will have fish pedicures.


Posted by: Washingtonian
on October 16, 2008 11:43 PM GMT

Are subways sterilized ? Are doorknobs sterilized ? Are mosquitos sterilized ? etc. No. So, they pose an undue risk to public health, more than the fishes of the article ! Or may be the risk is low-enough to live a true life and so, those fishes are not that risky.


Posted by: Ginkgo
on October 20, 2008 01:31 PM GMT

Ginkgo,

Is your gym floor sterile? I bet its not, and that's why you see people wearing flip flops to prevent athlete's foot. Maybe its wise to take precautions.


Posted by:
on October 21, 2008 10:25 AM GMT

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