Formalin scare hits fish markets in Coastal Odisha; raids continue

ONI Bureau: After traces of formalin causing cancer were dected from Pomfret samples in Bhubaneswar, officials of Cuttack Municipality Corporation and Fisheries Department conducted raid at several fish markets and godowns in the city to collect fish samples to detect the presence of Formalin since Sunday. Formaline is used to preserve cadavers. It is a carcinogen.

Officials of Rourkela Municipal Corporation also conducted raid fish outlets at Daily Market and Government Colony area and collected samples.

However, Director of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department today informed that there have no traces of Formalin found in freshwater fish so there is no need to panic as regular inspection is on.

Odisha government has now dispatched special kits to several coastal districts where huge quantities of fish are being imported from other neighboring States. Those kits will be used by field officers to check presence of any prohibitory substances to preserve fish stocks.