Francis Fernandes
This is a question that faces every Goan following the formalin-laced fish that was intercepted and tested positive by FDA recently. As the proverb goes “Once bitten twice shy”. It is not a million dollar or a billion dollar question today. The answer is emphatic NO.
The issue of formalin scare started on July 12, 2018, when Food and Drugs Administration, a competent body worldwide, is empowered to test drugs, foods, vegetables, non-vegetables including fish and then bar/destroy if found unsuitable for human consumption. Spot test conducted by FDA on fish samples from 17 trucks at the Margao wholesale market confirmed the presence of formalin which was released to the media. On learning this from media and social media there was uproar as the contents of formalin are not safe for human consumption. However, it is alleged due to political pressure from one of the ruling legislators within hours the FDA laboratory in Goa released a contradictory report that said formalin present in the fish was within permissible limits.
We have often heard of Avian flu a contagious viral disease with 100% mortality affecting chicken and turkeys, millions of these fowls and their eggs are destroyed the world over almost every year following the presence of parasites which lead to the death of other fowls before it affects the humans. Governments around the world order the total destruction in the interests of the society. The government of Goa was duty bound to take cognizance of the 1st FDA report and should have ordered the destruction of the entire consignment.
Thanks to the timely intervention by Dr Joe D’Souza a retired head of department of Microbiology of the Goa University. In his candid statement he said “There is nothing called as permissible limits. Formalin is there because someone has pushed it into the fish for the purpose of preserving it and formalin which is there at the loading point on the surface disappears and converted by bacteria into carbon dioxide and water but inside the tissue or inside the muscle formalin residues remain and accumulate. When such fish is consumed over a period of time it ultimately leads to cancer of liver and pancreas, and that is how cases of cancers are increasing in Goa”.
Now with the resumption of fish from outside Goa from August 4, 2018, 70 to 80 trucks enter the borders of Goa through two check points — Patradevi & Polem. Understaffed FDA will not be able to thoroughly check the presence of formalin. Moreover the lobby of fish owners entering Goa is powerful, hand in glove with important people in Goa and is capable of using all corrupt methods to lure the FDA staff at different points to continue their clandestine business activities at the cost of health of Goans.
