Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SHP)

Panaji, Jun 17: Over the past few days, formalin scare has been plaguing Goa. Food lovers have been abstaining from the consumption of anything concerning fish.

Formalin or formaldehyde is a preservative known to cause cancer and is generally used to preserve bodies in the morgue. Lately it is being used to increase the shelf life of fresh foods.

Over five out of 13 fish-laden trucks have been sent back. They were stopped and checked at Patradevi and Pollem borders. The officials found that there were no proper documentation and directed the trucks to return.

"Three of five trucks at Patradevi and two out of eight trucks in Polem were sent back because they did not have proper documentation. No formalin was found in any of the fish tested during the check," an official explained.

The Quality Council of India and the Food and Drugs Administration are conducting the necessary checks to prevent any health hazard. The Goa health minister, Vishwajit Rane is overlooking the matter.

The Food Safety Commissioner Jyoti J Sardesai was one of the key persons present at one of the quality checks done in the light of the formalin scare.