Formalin in fish: Crackdown on fish markets, godowns continues

Bhubaneswar:The crackdown on various fish markets and godowns to detect cancer inducing formalin laced fishes continued at different parts of the state for the third consecutive day today.

According to reports, a team of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) raided a godown at Press Chhak in the city and collected samples for examination at the food testing laboratory in Bhubaneswar.

The eight samples collected by officials of the civic body from various fish outlets in Cuttack on Monday tested negative, informed the officials.

“We have collected two samples of ‘Rohi’ and ‘Bhakura’ fishes so far and they have tested negative. More samples will be collected from consignments after they arrive here from Andhra Pradesh. Raids will be conducted in other markets later in the day,” informed Cuttack district fisheries officer,  Rabinarayan Patnaik.

“We had earlier collected eight samples from Cuttack markets and found no traces of formalin in it. However as per direction of the Government, there will be frequent checks and if the chemical is found in any fish, the stock will be destroyed and appropriate action will be taken against the seller,” said Food Safety officer of CMC, PK Pradhan.

Similarly, the Food Inspector and health officials of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) also conducted raids in different fish markets and godowns.

Fish markets in Balasore Town were also raided and samples were collected for the tests .

On Tuesday, similar searches were conducted in Sambalpur and Bolangir fish markets and samples were sent for examination.

Earlier the Commissioner of Food Safety, in a letter, had directed all the District Public Health Officers-cum-Designated Officers and Municipal Corporations of the State to collect samples of fish and send it to the Central Food Testing Laboratory for examination.