Mumbai: The five samples of fish collected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have tested negative for formalin. The FDA had also collected water from containers in which the fish were kept to find if there were traces of the cancer-inducing chemical. However, the water samples too have tested negative.
Last week, The Hindu carried out a test drive by collecting 27 fish samples from five different markets in the city and got them tested at the Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Versova. All the samples had tested negative. The FDA’s report reiterates The Hindu’s findings.
The FDA report has also brought relief to fish lovers. “We had collected all the samples at Crawford Market, which is one of the biggest in the city. The fish supply comes from various States, including West Bengal and Kerala. None of the samples had presence of formalin,” Shailesh Adhav, joint commissioner (food), FDA, said.
“The chemical is water soluble. To be even doubly sure, we also collected water from containers in case the chemical was washed out. But the water was clear too,” he said.
According to FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade, citizens, to be on the safe side, must wash the fish thoroughly under running tap water and cook it on high flame. “In case there is any presence of a chemical, the washing and the cooking will kill the chemical. Also, one must watch out for unusual smell from the fish and avoid eating it,” Ms. Darade said.
Formalin is formaldehyde in water. The chemical is routinely used in mortuaries to preserve bodies. Fish traders use the chemical to extend the storage life of the catch. It additionally helps give an appearance of freshness. Over the past few weeks, there has been a country-wide uproar with various States finding rampant use of the chemical in fish.
