Guwahati, 31 May: The presence of toxic formalin was proved in imported fish samples. A team of researchers from the state fisheries department, food safety department and Gauhati University and Raha Fisheries College admitted this.
Addressing a press conference at Gauhati University, the state fishery department on Tuesday said there were some worrying facts about the fish. Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Anupam Kumar Gogoi, Chief Food Analyst, Food Safety Department said, “Since April 28, the state food safety department has collected 86 samples of smuggled fish from different parts of the state. The presence of formalin has been detected in 10 of these samples.”
Formalin was found in Nagaon after testing three samples in two, dhemajit, one in Bijni, two in Barpeta, two in Darrang, one in Dhubri, one of two in Bongaigaon. He also said that the food safety department’s drive in various districts of the state is continuing and will continue.
On the other hand, a team of researchers from Gauhati University and Raha Fisheries College also revealed the presence of formalin in the examination conducted separately. However, keeping the fish submerged in pure water for an hour also reduces the level of formalin, the team of researchers said at a press conference.
It may be recalled that a team of researchers from Nagaon College conducted research for about three months and detected the presence of 15 per cent formalin as well as toxic cadmium, arsenic in the consignment fish imported from outside the state. After the release of this explosive information, there was a strong reaction in the state. Following this, on the instructions of the Chief Minister, Minister for Fisheries Parimal Suklabaidya entrusted the responsibility of re-examination of the matter to Gauhati University, Raha Fisheries College, College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara and The Central Inter-State Institute of Fisheries Research, Guwahati.
However, College of Veterinary Sciences and the Inter-State Fisheries Research Institute are yet to make public the results of their research. In a press conference, one thing became clear that the people of Assam are eating poison in the name of fish that are imported from outside the state.