the goan I network
MARGAO
The epicenter of the formalin scare “ SGPDA’s retail fish market in Margao “ was the centre of attraction on Tuesday as a scientist attached to the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) S J Lali, FDA Director Jyoti Sardesai, SGPDA Chairperson Dr Renuka Da Silva and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane in tow all descended to conduct a random test of fish sold in the market.
The exercise generated a lot of interest in the retail market as it came just days after the Congress leadership led by AICC General Secretary Dr Chella Kumar, GPCC chief Girish Chodankar and MLAs had all descended in the market to announce fish sold in the market was laced with formalin.
Scientist Dr S J Lali conducted a series of tests on mackerals, king fish, tamsho, mordoshe, lepeos in full public view with a rapid detection kit for formaldehyde (formalin) in fish, before the tests all came negative, bringing much relief to the fish vendors, whose business had hit rock bottom after last week’s tests.
Both scientist Lali and the Health Minister Rane explained to the media about the tests conducted by rapid detection kit and how it is different from the tests carried out by the FDA in July last. “This rapid detection kit has been specially produced by scientist S J Lali to check formalin in fish. This kit has been cleared and approved by the government and the Food Safety and Security Agency of India,” he said.
To a media query, Rane said the test conducted by the FDA official in the wholesale fish market in July last was with a different kit.
With each of the separate tests on the fish picked randomly from the market turning negative, the Health Minister said the exercise was conducted to restore confidence of the public. “The FDA has been continuously carrying out random checks of fish at the borders as well as in the markets. Today’s exercise in the PDA retail market has been carried out because the Congress leaders had come here a few days ago to create panic in the minds of the fish loving Madgavkars over the presence of formalin in fish,” Rane said.
With the SGPDA coming under the scanner over the quality of fish sale in wholesale and retail fish markets, PDA Member Secretary Dr Renuka Da Silva requested the Health Minister to provide the CIFT manufactured kits to the PDA officials to conduct random tests in
the markets.
Acceding to Dr Renuka’s request, the Health Minister said the FDA will not only make the kits available to the PDA, but has promised to train people or rope in people on contract for random testing of the fish.
