High level of carcinogenic sodium benzoate found in six samples of fish.
Experts opined that the preservative is highly dangerous to one's health and can also cause gastroenteritis.
Thiruvananthapuram: When the food safety officials initiated Operation Sagar Rani across the state, out of 405 fish samples, six contained sodium benzoate which is a preservative that can cause cancer.
Four samples were identified in Thiruvananthapuram, one each in Kollam, Kochi and Kozhikode districts.
Food safety officials told DC that all the samples were sent to Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi, which revealed the high level of sodium benzoate.
Experts opined that presence of the chemical substance could cause gastroenteritis as well as cancer. At the same time, the ice they seized revealed high dose of formalin.
“Initially, fish and dairy products were not checked. But when there have been several complaints from across the state on the quality of fish, we decided to check random samples. It revealed high dose of sodium benzoate which is actually a preservative to store the fish for a longer duration,” said a top official.
Much to their horror, when they seized the drinking water from tanker lorries, it showed dangerous levels of e.coli bacteria in Ernakulam district. The officials are trying to find out from where they source water there.
Meanwhile, the department has also decided to continue one of their flagship programmes, ‘safe food for healthy life’ in 280 more schools in the coming academic year after its success last year, started as a school health programme at a budget of close to Rs 50 lakh.
The department has selected 50 villages as part of bringing 100 food security villages where nutrition experts would be given lectures and classes.
A high-level meeting comprising food safety commissioner Ms Navjot Khosa and assistant food safety commissioners and district officers were held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday where they decided to enforce stringent measures to combat pesticide and chemicals laced fruits, vegetables, drinking water and milk.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called another high-level meeting on food safety.
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