Status of formalin in commercially important fishes from the northeastern region of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study revealed the status of formalin used in four commercially important fishes namely Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) and Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) from Sylhet and Moulvibazar district for a period of four months from April to July 2016. A total of 100 fish samples from different town and village markets were collected and analyzed instantly on the market to detect the presence of formalin by using a kit developed by Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). Among the analyzed fishes 46.7, 26.7, 20.0 and 13.3% of Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Hilsa, respectively were found treated with formalin from Sylhet district. Similarly, formalin was also detected in 40, 20, 20 and 20% of investigated Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Hilsa from Moulvibazar district, individually. There was no significant difference in formalin used between town and village market, whereas a significant difference in application of formalin in domestic and imported fishes except Catla has been identified. Two-third of imported Rohu (66.7%) was found formalin positive followed by Hilsa (44.4%), Mrigal (40%) and Catla (35.7%). Amongst the domestic fishes, presence of formalin was detected in 27.8, 18.8, 10.0 and 4.8% in Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Hilsa, separately. This devastating use of formalin in food fishes should be banned through proper enactment of the existing laws of the country, as well as timely and appropriate implementation of government monitoring is mandatory to combat the unethical formalin use.