MARGAO
The formalin scare had raised its ugly head for the first time around this time half-a-decade ago when FDA officer Iva Fernandes confirmed to the media that the qualitative tests conducted on fish sold at the Margao wholesale fish market had tested positive for formalin.
The detection of formalin-laced fish created ripples in the fish industry and in political circles, triggering a wave of suspicion over the quality of fish consumed by fish loving Goans, especially during the two-month ban period of June and July.
In fact, when the FDA officer Iva confirmed to the media that the fish samples has tested positive for formalin, she said, “the qualitative spot test has tested positive. We have directed the owners of the trucks transporting fish not to dispose of the fish without further orders.”
In fact, the FDA team had spotted around 17 vehicles at the wholesale fish market, which had brought fish to the market from different states, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha besides other states.
It’s another matter that investigations into the entire issue, including the demand to initiate criminal proceedings against the fish transporting vehicles which were suspected by the FDA officer for transporting fish laced with formalin were never taken to its logical conclusion.
