Food adulteration over time has taken on new and dangerous forms with unscrupulous individuals going to extreme lengths to earn money at the cost of unsuspecting consumers. In the latest incidents, fish-laced with Formalin has now found their way into the market causing jitteriness among the administrators and the public.

Formalin a chemical agent used in mortuaries and labs to preserve dead bodies to contain their decay, a crisis that has opened up a Pandora ’s Box of health concerns and panic. The reason why the chemical agent is causing such furore is because, formalin is derived from formaldehyde, which is known to have carcinogenic effects on human beings. It has been found that formalin easily contains close to 37-40 per cent formaldehyde and that if one ingests even 30 ml of a solution with about 37 per cent formalin, he or she is at high risk of cancer and even death. Even if the formalin-laced fish is cooked, the compound continues to release carcinogenic toxins in the body, of which immediate effects include abdominal pain, vomiting and unconsciousness.

 

It is commendable that the 300-odd fish vendors in collaboration with the Itanagar Market Welfare Association took the ethical stand to ban fish imports voluntarily in the capital complex.

The fact that the food safety cell said that no cases of such toxic fishes has been reported in the state while at the same breath admitting that they are yet to procure specific testing kit for formalin is quite contradictory. When there is no testing kit available how can one be sure that there are no toxic-laced fish in the market?

Under the ever evolving dynamics of food adulteration, the state food safety unit has to be watchful and one step ahead to tackle such devious intent and safeguard people’s health and welfare. The administration is still laid back when it comes to food safety and its regulation. Now that the cafe culture and home-based cooking businesses are sprouting across the capital region if not elsewhere, such laxity must be discarded and some form of regulation must be brought in place.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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