Fish samples in Chennai test positive for formalin

Fish being tested at the State Referral Laboratory for Fish Disease Diagnosis and Aquatic Animal Health in Madhavaram, Chennai, on Jule 08, 2018. 

Minister promises action against those using carcinogen

As many as 11 out of 30 samples of fish species purchased from Chinthadripet and Kasimedu, the two major fish markets in Chennai, on two different days, have tested positive for formalin, a cancer-inducing chemical used illegally to preserve fish.

The fish were tested by scientists of the Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University exclusively for The Hindu.

A low-cost formalin detection kit developed by researchers of the State-run university was used to test the samples purchased by The Hindu for ascertaining if they contained the carcinogen that is used widely as a preservative and disinfectant.

The tests were conducted on July 4 and July 8, the days when the fish were purchased.

Only one of 13 samples of fish purchased last Wednesday from the Chinthadripet, Velachery and Neelankarai markets tested positive at the university’s referral laboratory in Madhavaram.

However on Sunday as many as 10 of the 17 fish samples purchased from Chinthadripet and Kasimedu markets tested positive for the carcinogen, causing alarm.

Formalin causes irritation in the eyes, throat, skin and stomach. In the long run continued exposure causes harm to the kidneys, liver and can even cause cancers.

This is the first time samples of fish in Tamil Nadu have tested positive for formalin.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials have been undertaking tests at fish markets and harbours across the State to test for formalin following a scare in neighbouring Kerala that fish sourced from here were chemically contaminated.

Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said use of formalin as a preservative cannot be allowed at any cost. He said tests had been conducted in Thoothukudi and other places based on information received by the department but none of those samples had any formalin.

Samples to be lifted

“Since The Hindu has brought the [Chennai] test results to our notice, we will lift samples [from fish markets] and conduct tests. We will not hesitate to take strict action against those indulging in such acts,” Mr Jayakumar said.

Both big and small lizard fish or panna or kezhanga and paarai (Malabar trevally) were found to have formalin content of above 20 ppm (parts per million). Other varieties such as sura, octopus, eri vavvaal, ottu kanava, peikanava and kelithi had formalin of around 5 ppm.

For the test, a two gram piece of meat from the fish was taken and put inside four ml of diluent and shaken so that the formalin will get into it. Then this diluent was poured into the bottle containing the reagent that turned yellow revealing that it had tested positive.

“It is a very sensitive reagent and can detect up to 0.5 milligram per kilo. The actual test takes only 10 minutes,” explained Felix, Vice Chancellor of the University.

Fish industry experts said that formalin or formaldehyde is sprayed on the fish or injected into the fish or the fish is dipped into the solution. This helps keep the fish fresh for a longer time. Usually people who buy fish check the gills for freshness, if it is red it denotes freshness, when formalin is used the gills remain red for longer periods. In some cases, fishermen also apply kumkum to retain redness.

Case against 46 persons for holding food safety officials captive

The Attur Rural Police have registered a case against 46 persons for allegedly holding four officials of the Food Safety Department captive for a few hours in a sago manufacturing unit in Kattukottai village near Attur on Wednesday.

Police sources said that S. Mariappan, Designated Officer, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, and three other staff, were conducting surprise check in the sago unit following complaints of adulteration in the sago manufacturing process, when they were detained by the owner of the concerned unit along with the owners of other nearby units.

The police rushed to the spot and rescued the officials. Based on a complaint lodged by Mr. Mariappan, the Attur Rural Police registered case against six known persons, including S. Duraisamy, president of the Attur Sago and Starch Manufacturers Welfare Association, S. Prabakaran, its secretary, and 40 unknown persons under Sections 147 (rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 506 (1) IPC (criminal intimidation), police sources said.

FSSAI in Coimbatore yet to have fish testing kits

Recent seizures of fish treated with toxic chemical formalin by the Food Safety Department had triggered panic in Kerala. While spot testing kit was used to test fish consignments on transit in the neighbouring State, similar facility is yet to be used by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 30 districts in the State, including Coimbatore. As of now, spot test kits are used only in Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts.

P. Amudha, Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, told The Hindu that FSSAI is already working with Fisheries Department on finding a solution on the issue.

“We have started testing fish with kits developed by the Fisheries College and Research Institute for testing formalin or other chemical added as preservatives in Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts” said Ms. Amudha.

The official added that use of test kits developed by FCRI in the two districts are on pilot basis.

The spot testing kits are used to check the use of preservatives in fish due to practical difficulties in lifting samples and testing them at Government approved food laboratories.

During a recent inspection at Ukkdam new market here, the FSSAI team could only do a manual checking of stalls. The team, however, had seized 10 kg of rotten fish which was later dumped.

Apart from Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam, fish sold in Coimbatore have their origins from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. While sea fish of certain varieties are brought from Odisha, those sourced from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are fresh water fishes like katla, rogue and mrigal.

According to H. Bawa, president of Coimbatore District Fish Traders Association, Coimbatore is among districts with highest consumption of fish in the State. Nearly 60 to 70 tonnes of fish are sold on Saturday and Sunday and 15 to 20 tonnes during weekdays here.

“After the recent raid, the association members visited 48 wholesale stalls at Ukkadam old market and 60-odd retail stalls in new market and advised traders not to sell damaged or chemically treated fish. The association also informed wholesale dealers in other States and Tamil Nadu, from where fish are sourced, not to send consignments treated with chemicals. We have decided to inform Food Safety Department if any such consignment comes to our attention,” said Mr. Bawa.

Wokha bans sale of fresh fish

July 7: Deputy Commissioner, Wokha Dr Manazir Jeelani Samoon, IAS has prohibited storage, distribution or sale of fresh fish products including Crustaceans treated with formalin or other forms of preservatives in Wokha district for a period of three months or till corrective measures are taken with immediate effect.

In a notification, the DC warned that failure to comply with the provision of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and the notification will attract penalties up to Rs 10 lakhs with imprisonment under section 59 of the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.

Stale food in hotels harms people

Stale food in hotels harms people

Nellore: People who come to hotels are generally impressed by cool air-conditioned rooms, fine-looking environs and neatly dressed waiters. They do not pay much attention to the quality of food. Not only roadside food stalls, but even majority of popular restaurants and hotels have been serving contaminated and stale food. When Food Safety officials conducted raids on many popular hotels in the city, they found unhygienic conditions at kitchens. 

Popular hotels in the city were found to be having rotten non-vegetarian food items in refrigerators and also in preserving systems. People, after eating such food items, complain of stomach pain and vomiting. They get diarrhoea and other diseases. They simply consult the doctor and get treatment and never blame the hotel or restaurant managements. 

Experts say, more than 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, toxins and chemical substances. 

There are only a few pure vegetarian hotels and others are both veg and non-veg hotels. Normally, non-vegetarian restaurants charge more when compared to vegetarian hotels as they purchase raw material, store in deep freezers, and serve to the customers. They, sometimes, preserve prepared food in refrigerators for serving on the next day. 

Many times stale food gets spoiled even it is stored in refrigerators. Still, customers cannot identify it due to presence of masalas. Nellore is basically famous for non-vegetarian and sea foods and people from outside prefer Nellore fish curry and other fish varieties, Hot pot biryani, various varieties of chicken, mutton, and local combination of non-veg with vegetables like Gongura, Mango, drumsticks and others.

Now, popular non-vegetarian hotels also resorting to adulteration and irregular practices of storage leading to contamination. Food-borne and waterborne diseases kill people, most of whom are children. Pregnant women, the sick and the elderly are also particularly vulnerable to foodborne diseases, said Dr A Subrahmanyam, a physician from the city.