Traces Of Cancer-Causing Formalin Found In Fish Samples Collected From Sambalpur Market

Sambalpur: Traces of cancer-causing formalin have been found in two fish marine samples collected from different markets and outlets in Sambalpur district.

“A joint team of Fisheries Department and Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, during its raid, detected formalin in two fishes collected from a fish market at Kuluthakani. The fish samples will be sent to state food testing laboratory for a thorough examination,” Deputy Director (Fisheries) Pabitra Behera said on Thursday.

Though local vendors claimed that these were freshwater fish, Behera clarified that these were of marine species.

The team conducted simultaneous raids on several fish markets and shops at Ainthapali, Budharaja and Govindatala in the district.

The department had earlier clarified that freshwater fish sold in markets across Odisha are absolutely safe for consumption as no traces of cancer-causing formalin were found in them.

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.