Z300 machine tests formalin in the air, not foodstuff: BCSIR

The Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has said the instrument being used to test foodstuff for formalin contamination is meant for detection of formalin in the air.
The state-run scientific research organisation has submitted a report on the issue following a High Court order, according to a news agency.
BCSIR scientists collected the instrument from the market and ran tests on fruit samples.
Munzil Murshid, whose petition brought about the court order, said he received a copy of the report on Tuesday.
The report said the Formaldehyde Vapour Meter Z300, manufactured by Environmental Sensor, was a sensitive device for accurately measuring formaldehyde vapour in the air and the environment.
The manufacturers do not provide any application note on how to use the machine to measure formaldehyde in food.
The report said BCSIR scientists immersed the fruit samples in 5 percent formaldehyde solution and dried them at room temperature. Then the contaminated fruit and sample fruit were put in polyethylene bags for some time. Then the machine was used to measure formaldehyde in the air inside those bags.