Quoted from Threepwood

Sorry, you said " back to the fish", and since the topic was the Garra Rafu it seemed reasonable to assume you meant back to them. When you then said "they come from the sea right?" I felt that clarification was needed, and pointed out that the Garra Rafu do NOT come from the sea, being, as they are, freshwater fish

Stop fretting Threep, I already agreed you made a good point.  In fact I've never seen such a good point made, you should be proud of yourself. Did you get my point about feet in water (freshwater or otherwise)?

Quoted from Threepwood

oh, and for the third time of asking....(since you pointed out it was always best to research properly)

"Can we take it then that Kennet Shopping were already aware that this stuff had been banned in a number of States (14) and yet were still happy for it to go ahead? "

A simple Yes or No will do...

I have to come clean. I've written my response to this with the last few comments I made since you asked the first time. I deleted it each time because I know how you love to keep niggling away when you think you've cornered someone on the forum by your cleverness.

Kennet Shopping are like all other shopping centres in the UK and won't take risks. You should give them a visit if you have several hours to spare to have a look at their intensive H&S procedures and policies to ensure the wellbeing and safety of their visitors.

I'll take that as a 'No' then...


Threep.

Its interesting reading the comments, especially about the States.

So let me get this right. 14 states in the US have banned this treatment because they believe that it is possible to catch something from the fish? Or have them catch something from a person and then pass it to another person?? Thats fair enough but I think the point that is being missed here and as Factfile picked up on earlier "To date, there is no evidence that infections have been spread from client to client through fish pedicures". I think the other point people are missing or may not even realise is this treatment has been around for 30 years. Now if you take all the people all around the world in 30 years who have had this treatment I am pretty sure that it is safe based on that logic??

Also I just had a look at Footfetfish' website. They have already covered this for those who have not read their pages yet, but they cover the issues and background of mimic fishes and also disease etc, I hope they make a CD of the music they have on their too it sent me to sleep  . Either way I think its great and will definately be having a go. Its pretty cool to have something funky in the shopping centre as it is quiet there at the moment.

Quoted from Locallad

....... "To date, there is no evidence that infections have been spread from client to client through fish pedicures". I think the other point people are missing or may not even realise is this treatment has been around for 30 years. Now if you take all the people all around the world in 30 years who have had this treatment I am pretty sure that it is safe based on that logic??

No evidence is a frequently used term that has little value. All it really says is no one can prove it.  You would have got a similar response regarding smoking and asbestos many years ago!

However I don't expect the risks are high and it is up to the individual to make up their mind.

On a similar subject there was a programme on BBC4 about river swimming this week (which I missed) did they highlight the risks of catching Wiels disease on the programme??

I agree with what your saying nobby, its just amusing that people read an article and believe it instantly without actually weighing things up themselves. At the end of the day its the individuals (like you say) choice.

My thoughts are I have probably got a higher chance of catching something off someone else in everyday life than I have doing this thing. People just read stuff and believe it, instead they should go investigate themselves one minute alcohol is bad the next minute its good one day beetroot is great for us the next its not.

I just got back from spain and a few of my friends were swimming in the river, it looked discusting, I wouldnt like to catch Wiels disease : )

Quoted from Locallad

Now if you take all the people all around the world in 30 years who have had this treatment I am pretty sure that it is safe based on that logic??.

Absolutely......and that's the same logic the tobacco companies hid behind before peeps started popping their clogs.

And yes yes yes, I do realise that there is a huge difference between lung cancers and ichthyotherapy, all I wanted to know was whether Kennet Shopping were aware that it had been banned elsewhere before they gave permission for this company to go ahead.


Threep

Quoted from Locallad

At the end of the day its the individuals....choice.

Spot on....but don't you think they should be given all available information BEFORE they make their choice?

well I dont know if they have taken into account that it is banned elsewhere. I think what they would have done is taken into account that this busniness has been established in the UK for sometime now and they are operating all over the place as well as competitors, plus the majority of these places have worked with the council, environmental health and animal welfare to make sure everythng is fine. We are a totally separate country so would take into account what we are doing at home first. However I would have thought that seeing the business is going ahead they would have at least have to propose the idea and go through the details of set up etc.

And why would they ban it even if they did know about the bans in the states? There is no valid reason really?

well I dont know if they have taken into account that it is banned elsewhere. I think what they would have done is taken into account that this busniness has been established in the UK for sometime now and they are operating all over the place as well as competitors, plus the majority of these places have worked with the council, environmental health and animal welfare to make sure everythng is fine. We are a totally separate country so would take into account what we are doing at home first. However I would have thought that seeing the business is going ahead they would have at least have to propose the idea and go through the details of set up etc.

And why would they ban it even if they did know about the bans in the states? There is no valid reason really?

well I dont know if they have taken into account that it is banned elsewhere. I think what they would have done is taken into account that this busniness has been established in the UK for sometime now and they are operating all over the place as well as competitors, plus the majority of these places have worked with the council, environmental health and animal welfare to make sure everythng is fine. We are a totally separate country so would take into account what we are doing at home first. However I would have thought that seeing the business is going ahead they would have at least have to propose the idea and go through the details of set up etc.

And why would they ban it even if they did know about the bans in the states? There is no valid reason really?

Quoted from Locallad

And why would they ban it even if they did know about the bans in the states? There is no valid reason really?

I never suggested that they banned it...I only asked if they knew it was banned elsewhere before they allowed it go ahead.

Threep.

well I dont know if they have taken into account that it is banned elsewhere. I think what they would have done is taken into account that this busniness has been established in the UK for sometime now and they are operating all over the place as well as competitors, plus the majority of these places have worked with the council, environmental health and animal welfare to make sure everythng is fine. We are a totally separate country so would take into account what we are doing at home first. However I would have thought that seeing the business is going ahead they would have at least have to propose the idea and go through the details of set up etc.

And why would they ban it even if they did know about the bans in the states? There is no valid reason really?

Quoted from Locallad

I think what they would have done is taken into account that this busniness has been established in the UK for sometime now

This business was formed in 2010. (is that "sometime now")


Threep.  

Quoted from Nobby

On a similar subject there was a programme on BBC4 about river swimming this week (which I missed) did they highlight the risks of catching Wiels disease on the programme??

It was only mentioned in passing. Concerning given that it is a nasty disease. Even more concerning as the presenter was swimming in rivers while she was 4 months pregnant. Given that rats are hardly uncommon around our waterways, it was surprising that the subject wasn't really touched on.

Something I do know is that the guy who set up Footfetfish is that he is working with Environmental Health to bring in stricter legislation towards the end of the year having run numerous spas in Europe historically even though this business looks like it has been set up in 2010 in the UK it looks like he has been doing this for about 4 years now.

Quoted from Locallad

Something I do know is that the guy who set up Footfetfish is that he is working with Environmental Health to bring in stricter legislation towards the end of the year

Why would he need to do that if all this stuff is tickety-boo then?

Since he's based in Reading with only one employee which Environmental Heath Department is he working with?  ('cos it aint Public Protection at West Berks, that's for sure)   http://www.linkedin.com/companies/footfetfish.com


Threep