Chennai: Food security officials have confiscated more than 275 kg of stale fish from vendors and warehouses in the Kasimedu market and Chintadripet.
The fish was taken in the truck and destroyed according to the norm of bio-medical waste, Chennai’s food safety appointed by Dr.
Satish said.
In addition, at least 13 samples were taken from vendors – large and small – because they were allegedly mixed with poisonous preservatives such as formalin.
Food Safety Commissioner Tamil Nadu recently ordered fish market inspections after complaints from various sources including CM cells and collectors about the sale of stale fish and the use of dangerous preservatives, officials said.
On Saturday, city teams examined three major city markets in Kasimedu, Chintadripet and Nochikuppam.
“More than 200kg of fish in the chitradripet storage unit and another 75kg in Kasimedu which is stored in a deep freezer or a lot of ice is found stale,” said Dr.
Satish.
Most of these fish varieties come from countries such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal by train to Chennai.
“Fish have short shelf life and must be stored at the right temperature during transportation.
Because they are expensive, vendors use excess chemicals such as formalin,” said Dr.
Satish.
Public health experts warn formalin, formaldehyde derivatives, called “human carcinogens” are used to preserve the body.
When food is mixed with formalin eaten, it triggers the metabolic process and produces poisons.
While in the short term can cause digestive problems, it can ultimately cause diseases such as cancer.