Paradip: Non-vegetarians who just got over the formalin scare in fish have yet another scare to face.
This time it is colistin, an anti-biotic, used on chickens to keep them alive for long times at poultry firms has been the reason of panic. Like formalin, the chemical is said to be hazardous to health.
Revealing startling facts about the ever increasing use of Colistin, earlier Union Minister Menaka Gandhi August 13 had confirmed that Indian poultry farms were rampantly using Colistin to prevent the death of farm animals.
As per sources, the use of Colistin has been banned in 36 countries, including India. However, poultry owners are rampantly using this harmful antibiotic, thus putting the lives of the consumers in risk.
There are animal husbandry, health and environment departments to monitor and take steps to check use of Formalin in preserved fish and Colistin in live chickens. But their apathetic attitude has prompted these farmers to use more of this anti-biotic.
After catching fish from rivers, ponds and seas, they are usually kept in ice boxes. Later, formalin is mixed with the ice cubes to keep the fish preserved for more days. Besides, more chemicals are added to create a gel like materials on the bodies of fishes to make them look fresh.
Generally Formalin is used in plastic factories and tanneries. The chemical is also used to preserve dead bodies. If this chemical goes into human bodies through fish consumption, many unwanted diseases affect people.
Similar is the case with Colistin. In general practice, chickens are reared badly in small size cages. Hence, to keep them alive for a longer period, poultry farmers use these banned chemical. They spray this harmful chemical in the eyes and nose of the chicken.
When human beings consume flesh and eggs of these chemically-treated chickens, Colistin enters their bodies.
Once it enters someone’s body, their immunity power gets diminished. Besides, they tend to suffer diseases relating to kidneys, skin, anaemia and nerve system, mentions Menaka Gandhi in her report.
As people remain unaware of the illegal use of Colistin and Formalin, the government is yet to take steps against the users.
An NGO active in Paradip has already asked animal husbandry department, environment department and health for information on what type of antibiotic is used in poultry farms, number of poultry farms and whether their chicken is tested or not.
According to sources, such tests have never been conducted in last 20 years. After the Colistin issue raised by Menaka Gandhi, it is yet to be seen as to how seriously these three departments are carrying on inspection.
PNN
