Alarm raised over fishy preservation practice

There's something fishy in the fish business! Farmers in Punjab recently sounded an alert that wholesalers were using a chemical to prevent fish from deteriorating during transportation. And this toxic chemical, formalin, is one that's used to preserve dead bodies in mortuaries.Farmers were allegedly told by wholesalers to treat fish with formalin. As news and panic spread, the fisheries department sounded an alert in Punjab.The contaminated fish was of the Pangasius, also known as Basa, variety.Speaking to Gulf News over the phone, B.K Sood, director, Department of Fisheries, Punjab, said it was alarming to know about such a practice. Sood, however, said the practice has been stopped due to the timely intervention. He added that authorities would be vigilant on the issue.Formalin is a cheap and toxic substance, easily available over the counter. It is used illegally to preserve perishable food items like fish and fruits. Its treatment is known to increase the shelf life of the fish and can prevent it from rotting for 15 to 20 days.Fish is becoming a more popular choice of food for many people.