Living with poisoned fishes

Fish has a very strong cultural attachment as an irreplaceable animal food source in Bangladeshi diet with high nutritional value. Unfortunately, over the years, marketing of fish across the country has been tainted by the abominable practice of applying Formaldehyde (formalin).
Dr Umme Ara, principle scientific officer of the institution of Food Science and Technology of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), says that Formaldehyde may cause uncontrolled cell growth or cancer in stomach, lung and respiratory system if anyone consumes fish contaminated with it. Professor Mir Misbahuddin, chairman of the department of pharmacology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, tells that no specific research on diseases based on Formaldehyde contamination has been conducted in this country as yet, but the chemical substances that should not to be in food items are harmful to human bodies if the contaminated items are regularly consumed. He adds, 'Formaldehyde, carbide and DDT (a kind of pesticide that has been used to preserve dry fish) are not part of nutrition in our food items and the chemicals are being used in stretching unnatural shelf life of foods. Hence, if the chemicals are consumed, they react to cause unnatural nutritional composition in human bodies adversely impacting human cell growth system. Formalin, a typical commercial grade of formaldehyde, may contain 10 to 12 per cent methanol and aluminium, iron and copper.
 In a study published in the Journal of Medical Sciences, it has been revealed that formaldehyde levels are high in imported fish coming from India and Myanmar.
In the Dhaka fish markets, fishes of pale colour due to long exposure to dry weather and heat are found to be coloured artificially by the retailers and wholesalers. Colouring is done very early in the morning when fishes reach the wholesalers after auction. Generally, eyes, paired fins (pectoral and pelvic), mouth and abdominal portions are coloured.
The European Commission has announced its decision that formaldehyde used as food preservatives and foods containing formaldehyde will be banned from  July 01, 2015. Lawmakers in the state of Minnesota have decided that formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent, is too dangerous for children.  Products containing formaldehyde have been declared banned from being sold from August 1st, 2014, for manufacturers and August 1st, 2015, for retailers. So, why not in Bangladesh?
The government must have a firm commitment to wage a sustained campaign against those engaged in food adulteration and to establish our fundamental right to safe and nutritious food. For this to achieve, enforcement of existing laws under one umbrella need to be ensured. Promotion of ethical practices among the business community is also needed with active participation of the business leaders. The consumer rights groups should be more vocal and play active role in developing a mass campaign/movement in the country.
The writer is Correspondent                  of American International                 News Service. [email protected]