Report

In a significant food safety operation, authorities disposed of 350 kg of spoiled fish, some of which contained formaldehyde, at four shops in the Kasimedu fish market. The fish was found to be unsanitary and unfit for sale to hotels and bars during inspections on Saturday. Food safety authorities, including representatives from the Greater Chennai Corporation, police, fisheries department, and food safety department, inspected nearly 100 shops in the market. They responded to complaints that certain vendors were sourcing fish from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal without proper food safety licenses. The vendors also failed to follow necessary cold chain protocols for transport and storage.

Spoiled Fish Found in Freezers

During the inspection, authorities discovered several stores storing large quantities of spoiled fish in deep freezers, meant for sale to hotels and bars. Dr. P. Satheesh Kumar, the designated food safety officer for Chennai, confirmed that the storage of old fish violates food safety regulations and compromises the freshness of newly arrived fish.

Formaldehyde Use in Fish Raises Concerns

Reports revealed that some fish in the market contained formaldehyde to extend their shelf life. While formaldehyde occurs naturally in fish during decomposition, some sellers were reportedly adding extra chemicals to preserve the fish transported from distant regions. These chemicals are diluted to mask the odour, which customers may only detect once they clean and prepare the fish at home.

Food Safety Testing and Penalties

Food safety teams have sent samples from six stores to the laboratory in Guindy for testing. If the fish is deemed unsafe for consumption, the vendors will face penalties. Authorities have issued warnings to over 50 vendors, demanding that they rectify food safety breaches within three weeks. Additionally, two stores received fines of ₹4,000 each for poor hygiene and violations.

Source: The Times of India