Formalin Laced Fish Selling Across India: Human Health Concern

Over the decade, the adulteration activities are surprisingly increasing such as water in milk, papaya seed mixed with black pepper, injectable/chemical and preservative used for vegetables, fruits and other food items to maintain their freshness, increase the market value, and earn more profit.

- Balwinder Singh & Kalyani Supriya

A number of people are engaged in this crime who playing over the human health and pollutes our community. To eradicate the problem at this magnitude is really difficult but possible to find the only by using the detection kits and advance research technology needed. To prevent from the rigor mortis, a most widely consumable chemical; formalin (formaldehyde) are carcinogenic in nature and used for fish freshness via sprayed or injected and fish are dipped in it. The experts say that the consumers usually check the fish freshness from the redness of gills. A cancer causing chemical keeps the gills red for a longer time besides it is often used in morgues to preserve dead bodies. Around 30 ml consuming at 37% concentration can lead to death to the humans.