Panaji: After series of raids across fish markets which resulted in closing of wholesale market in Margao, the FDA has clarified that detailed tests on the samples drawn has shown that they are safe for consumption.
FDA Director Jyoti Sardesai today issued a press statement following the raids. This is what she said in a press note:
In view of the media reports, raising doubts about the quality of fish available in Goa, and also the central media reports indicating that some of the states have banned the import of fish from other states and to ensure that tie fish available in Goa is safe especially the consignments arriving from outside the state, in the public health interest, Food and Drugs administration had deputed two teams one to south Goa and another at north at 4 a.m. today.
The south goa team visited the wholesale fish market at margao and collected samples of fish mainly from the vehicles arriving from other states such as kerala, tamil nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
These samples were drawn from 17 vehicles and one fish vendor. Samples of fish drawn were pedi, mackerels, tarli, gobro, savnale, tisryo, muddoshi, white promfret, verli and prawns and were subjected to the preliminary spot analysis by the chemist to determine presence of formalin.
The samples tested positive showing presence of formaldehyde. Hence as an abundant precaution the fish vendors were instructed not to distribute the stock of fish till such time the detailed labouratory reports were available. These samples of fish were immediately brought to the FDA labouratory at Bambolim on war footing and subjected to quantitative analysis.
The results obtained for all the samples are found within permissible limits. The fish samples are thus declared to be safe for consumption. The whole process of sampling as well as detailed analysis was undertaken on top priority basis, keeping in mind the perishable nature of fish.
North goa team drew three samples of fish from Panaji market, said samples were also tested at Bambolim Laboratory of FDA and are declared to be safe for consumption.
Thus today’s exercise has shown that the fish sold here is safe and FDA will in future too remain vigilant towards any formalin contamination of the fish sold in the market.
