Coimbatore: Officials from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) along with Fisheries department on Thursday seized 500 kilograms of rotten fish and formalin-laced fish from Ukkadam Fish market in the city.
Coimbatore: Officials from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) along with Fisheries department on Thursday seized 500 kilograms of rotten fish and formalin-laced fish from Ukkadam Fish market in the city.
Acting upon a tip-off that formalin-laced and rotten fishes are sold at various fish markets in the city, the FSSAI officials geared up their inspections.
A team headed by Dr K Tamil Selvan, District Designated officer, FSSAI inspected the new and old fish market at Ukkadam to check on the usage of banned chemicals and to check the shelf life of the fishes displayed for sale.
During the inspection, the officials found 430 kilograms of rotten fishes were kept for sale. And, also seized 70 kilograms of formalin-laced fishes from the market. Out of the 500 kg of seized fishes, 70kg of fishes were found to be formalin-laced, the officials told.
Talking to Simplicity, Dr K Tamil Selvan, Designated Officer FSSAI added that, "FSSAI department along with Fisheries department conducted raid at 69 shops at Wholesale and retail market in Ukkadam and found 430 kg of rotten fishes worth RS 1 lakh."
"During the raid, we also seized 70 kg of formalin-laced Sankara Fish or Red Snapper. The seized fishes were destroyed and the shop owners were warned and advised to maintain food standards", he informed.
Denying the accusations of Formalin-laced dishes seized from Ukkadam Fish Market, H.S.Bawa, President of Wholesale Association, Ukkadam Fish Market informed that no formalin-laced fishes were sold in the market.
"The officials seized 500 kg of old stock fishes stored in 69 shops in the market. On behalf of the association, we are trying our best to maintain the food standards and provide fresh fishes to the consumers", he added.
Later, all the seizes fishes were destroyed using Phenyl.
The officials have warned that severe action will be taken on traders who sell inferior quality or rotten fishes and formalin-laced fishes.