Key Update

Authorities at Poovar Fisheries have warned the public not to consume fish waste arriving from seafood export companies in Tamil Nadu. Officials found that traders were transporting low-quality, unusable portions—meant for waste disposal—to Kerala’s coastal regions and selling them to unsuspecting consumers.

Food Poisoning Incident Triggers Investigation

On October 29, more than 40 people along the coast fell ill after eating mackerel heads and portions sourced from Tamil Nadu. The Food Safety Department investigated the incident and confirmed that the discarded fish waste was the cause of the food poisoning. The Poovar Fisheries Extension Officer reported that seafood export units in Tamil Nadu had originally set aside these unusable parts for disposal as waste. However, middlemen diverted the waste to Kerala’s coastal markets and sold it without disclosing its poor quality.

Authorities Issue Strict Advisory

After the incident, the Food Safety Department conducted detailed inspections and identified substandard fish parts in coastal markets. Authorities have issued a strict advisory urging the public to avoid buying or consuming such fish portions and have called for increased vigilance in coastal fish markets.

Source: mathruhumi