Odisha: Raids on fish markets in Cuttack to detect formalin

Cuttack: Amid reports about the presence of formalin in fish, a raid was conducted on several fish markets and godowns in Odisha’s Cuttack.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC)’s Health Department raided fish markets at Khapuria and Krushakbazar in the city this afternoon suspecting the traders might be selling formalin-laced fish.

The team led by CMC’s Food Safety Officer Prabhakar Pradhan examined more than 20 fish godowns and collected samples of four fishes.

“The fish samples have been sent to a laboratory in Bhubaneswar for testing,” Pradhan told reporters here.

The CMC officials conducted raid on fish markets in the Millenium City after the cancer-causing chemical formalin was found in fish stocks available in the markets in Bhubaneswar.

On July 13, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department Secretary Vishal Gagan had told the media that traces of formalin were found in Pomfret fish samples, collected from the Unit-IV fish market in Bhubaneswar.

Except pomfret, no other fish samples were tested positive to formalin.

Formalin, a type of chemical, is used to keep dead fish fresh and enhance their storage life.

The fish scare unfolded in the State after the Assam government had banned the import of fish from Andhra Pradesh after lab tests detected formalin in some samples.

The Odisha government has formed a 12-member team headed by Joint Director of Fisheries (coastal) PR Rout had collected fish samples of C.mrigala (Miirikali), L.Rohita (Rohi), patua and shrimp, horse mackerel, pomfret, pacu, H.ilisha.