Formalin In Fish: Samples Collected From Outlets In Khurda

Khurda: Intensifying its ongoing inspection process to detect presence of cancer-causing formalin in fish, a joint team of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department and municipal corporation officials raided different outlets in Khurda on Thursday.

Simultaneous raids were carried out at markets and outlets in Khurda town and nearby areas and samples of different fish varieties were collected for examination.

On Wednesday, The department has already ruled out presence of formalin in freshwater fish sold cross Odisha.

Samples of varieties of fish have been collected from different places in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Balasore and Rourkela since July 13 and sent to laboratory for tests.

Notably, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary Vishal Gagan on July 13 had confirmed the presence of formalin in Pomfret fish samples picked up from Unit-4 fish market in Bhubaneswar.

In a letter to the district public health officials and municipal corporations, Commissioner of Food Safety Archana Patnaik has asked them to collect samples of fish and send them to the National Food Testing Laboratory.

Citing reports in the print and electronic media, she directed theses officials to ask the food safety officials concerned to collect random samples.