FDA receives 18 test kits from Kochi

Margao: Over the last three days, the directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) has tested a total of 20 fish samples with none being positive.

FDA director Jyoti Sardesai told TOI that “the FDA has begun checking fish samples at three fish markets – Panaji, Mapusa and Bicholim. We tested four samples from the Panaji fish market, seven from the Mapusa fish market and nine from the Bicholim fish market. All the samples have passed.” No checks were, however, conducted at Margao wholesale market.

“The FDA has received 18 testing kits from Kochi, Kerala, but we have asked for more kits. These kits will be made available commercially in one week,” said the FDA director.

Sardesai further clarified about the early morning raid conducted by a FDA team at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) wholesale fish market on July 12 wherein the spot test detected traces of formalin in the fish. But after tests were conducted in the FDA laboratory, the FDA declared it as negative and to be ‘within permissible limits.’

To a query, the director said that nobody is supposed to declare results of the spot test which are just indicative tests and further tests are required to be conducted in the FDA laboratory. So one cannot jump to conclusions as it was found to be in the safe range below 0.5 parts per million (ppm). The government will take action against the official (who prematurely declared the results).”

Sardesai said, “Everything has been clarified and made public in the press release issued. Everyone is making a mistake as formalin cannot be added to any food item as per the Food and Safety Standards rules. But, formaldehyde is a natural organic compound present in fish. The amount of formaldehyde varies upto 4 ppm which is considered as safe (permissible limit).”