Thiruvananthapuram: Food Safety Standards Authority fixed the maximum limit for formaldehyde that could be allowed in fish. Though formalin, which is the diluted form of formaldehyde, is banned in preservation of fish, a minor quantity of formaldehyde is naturally produced in fish. Strict action will be taken if fishes were found laced with excess formaldehyde. 

FSSAI has set different quantities of formaldehyde for various fish varieties and directed all states to follow the latest guidelines issued. 

The upper limit of formaldehyde is 4 milligram per kilogram for most of the sea fish and freshwater fish. All major fish varieties available in the market comes under this category. The presence of 8 milligrams of formaldehyde will be permitted in other categories of fish. 

FSSAI has also warned the presence of formaldehyde in fish products to not exceed 1 mg per kilogram.

What is formalin?

Formalin is a diluted solution of the chemical component formaldehyde, with 35 to 40 per cent of water in it. It is mainly used as a disinfectant and chemical substance for thickening the cells so that the bacteria cannot feed on the dead body. 

Formalin in fish

Along with the formaldehyde produced naturally in the fish, formalin has been found used in huge quantities to preserve fish. The food safety department has intensified inspections to keep a check on formalin use recently and gave away strips to consumers for checking the quantity of formaldehyde while buying fish. By this, using formalin as a preservative for fish has been curbed considerably in the state. The department also observed that the chemical substance sodium benzoate is also mixed as a preservative in fish brought from other states.