Rs 1 lakh worth stale, formalin laced fish seized in Kovai

Following frequent complaints from public, four teams of the food safety department led by designated officer Tamil Selvan along with staff of the fisheries department carried out a raid in the market in the morning.

Of the total seizure, 430 kgs have got rotten and the remaining 70 kgs were laced with formalin, which is a preservative chemical. The seized fish, which were worth over Rs 1 lakh, were destroyed by the officials.

Consuming fish laced with the toxic preservative may cause health complications, including cancer. Some of the immediate effects of consuming formalin are burning sensation in the eyes, throat, coughing and nausea.

The food safety department has been involved in a crackdown against formalin laced fish in different districts across the state.