Feet-Nibbling Fish Lead To Lawsuit
POSTED: 3:53 pm MST November 30, 2009
UPDATED: 8:40 am MST December 1, 2009
MESA, Ariz. -- A conservative watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against a state agency on behalf of a Gilbert salon owner who uses nibbling fish to remove dead skin from the feet of customers.
The Goldwater Institute argued in its suit filed Monday that the Arizona Board of Cosmetology overstepped its bounds when it decided the fish perform pedicures and are subject to regulatory control.
The Board banned Cindy Vong from performing fish pedicures in April.
She opened Spa Fish Therapy last year and charged customers $30 to plunge their feet into a clean tank filled with fish.
"I want it back. I want my normal operate back," Vong said. "I spent so much time, so much money, and everybody loves it."
Fish pedicures are popular in many Asian countries and in other states and uses small Garra Rufa fish imported from China. The fish nibble on the customers' feet, removing dead skin.
The Board of Cosmetology ordered the spa to close because the fish cannot be sterilized with barbicide and an ultraviolet lamp, like traditional beauty tools.
"The fish would die so you can't do it," said Vong.
She said the fish are clean and safe.
She said the state's ban has cost her a substantial financial investment and lost business.
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