Paradip: Use of the poisonous chemical formaldehyde has made dry fish consumption a life threatening affair.
Since 2009, traders have been mixing the chemical in preparation of dry fish here in a bid to keep the item fresh for a longer period.
The fisheries and drugs control departments, though aware of the matter, have done little to curb the practice. After putting up awareness banners in this regard at few a places in the port town, the fisheries department is sitting silent on the issue.
The chemical is so harmful that two fishermen of Bangalipada near Nehru Bungalow died after mistakenly consuming it mixed with country liquor April 24.
Observers claimed that due to slack measures and inadequate laws this chemical is easily available in the market for anything between Rs 60 and Rs 90 per litre.
Even a ban on sea fishing due to the ongoing fish breeding season has failed to arrest the trend as traders bring fish from Chilika, Huma and Kolkata and prepare dry fish at Atharbanki dry fish yard by mixing the harmful chemical which is usually used is manufacturing plastic items.
Given the harmful nature of the chemical and its high acid content, minimum amount of this chemical is also used in preservation of certain food items.
Sources said this chemical when mixed with dry fish helps in preserving the item for a longer period. Even rotten fish mixed with this chemical can be preserved for long period.
Chief medical officer of Biju Memorial Hospital Dr Prafulla Kumar Dixit said dry fish mixed with this chemical when eaten over a longer period will weaken bones in the human body and make them brittle.
Moreover, the food item becomes hard like plastic because of the chemicals and is hard to digest.
Besides, dry fish prepared with an overdose of the chemicals when eaten for a period might result in killer diseases like cancer in humans, he added.
Fisheries officer Madhumani Samal said letters have been issued to every fishing association and awareness programmes are being conducted at frequent intervals.
Drug inspector Prangya Paramita Sahu said her department will take action when any complaint will be made. PNN
