Gauhati University, Fishery College, Food Safety Department confirm formalin in fish

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The experts of the Zoology Department of Gauhati University, Fishery College located at Raha, and officials of the State Food Safety Department came out with confirmed reports today that fish samples they had collected from various districts in the State had formalin in them. With this revelation, the next step the State Government will take to tackle the menace is quite significant.

Addressing the media at the Gauhati University campus here today, experts from the two educational institutions and representatives from the State Food Safety Department made it clear that GU experts found formalin in seven of the ten samples they had collected. The experts at the university collected seven of the ten samples from various fish markets in Gauhati and three from fish markets in the Nagaon district.

The experts said that the Fishery College collected seven samples and sent them to the Central Marine Fish Research Institute located at Kohi for testing. The institute found formalin in all seven samples. The Food Safety Department collected as many as 86 samples and found formalin only in ten fish samples. The officials of the department said that they are keeping a close watch on fish markets. They, however, said that they had no information as to where traders use formalin to preserve fish. The officials said that guilty would face imprisonment up to imprisonment of five years. The officials further said that they would send testing kits to all district food safety units to check for the menace.

Also Read: Assam: Fisheries Dept Claims That Formalin Was Found in 10 Out of 86 Fish Samples

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