Thiruvananthapuram: Fish coated with deadly chemicals continue to enter Kerala markets. Authorities have seized 9,500 kg of fish from Aryankavu in Kollam on Tuesday. The fish containing high levels of formalin was brought to the state from Rameswaram and Thoothukudi, major fish-landing centres in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, a test of the fish sample seized from a cargo that had arrived in Palakkad on Monday found 4.1 mg of formalin in one kilogram. Earlier, the officials of the food safety department had found high toxic content from the samples of about 14,000 kg fish stock kept at the border check-posts at Amaravila and Walayar. Test results from the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology revealed the presence of 63.6 mg of formalin in one kilogram.
Earlier, a few fish consignments that were brought to the state were sent back and these included 6 tons of fish brought to the market at Edappazhinji in the state capital.
Formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical, is commonly used to preserve dead bodies in morgues. Its consumption could lead to lung and blood cancer, besides harming the digestive system and causing ulcers.
As the departments of health, food safety and fisheries are making limited efforts to examine fish stocks that arrive in the local market from other states, public continue to consume fish preserved with toxic chemicals.