GUWAHATI: The Health & Family Welfare Department of Assam recently put a 10-day restriction on fish coming from outside the state. This step was taken after the State Public Health Laboratory, Assam confirmed presence of formalin in samples of fish that were taken from the city's Lokhra market.
There were reports of fish, mainly coming from Andhra Pradesh, containing formalin, a mortuary-embalming chemical, to preserve the fishes. Acting on this, Assam’s minister of state for health and family welfare, Pijush Hazarika, had earlier, on June 29, announced that the state will ban procuring fish from outside if the sample results came positive for formalin.
G Plus asked the citizens what they felt would be the outcome of the ban. Who would be affected more, the general public or the fish sellers? And whether, they supported the ban.
Of the 1,119 respondents in the G Plus poll, 75% said that the ban would adversely affect the vendors whereas only 25% said that it would affect the common public.
What the G Plus poll revealed was that almost everyone unanimously wanted a ban on fish treated with any sort of chemical. The general public does not want to eat anything – may it be bananas or mangoes – laced with any chemicals. They would like the government to take strict action against those involved in such practices.
Just for the sake of saving the business of a few vendors, selling something which was carcinogenic to the larger population should be dealt with firmly, opined the respondents. Fish or no fish, the respondents were for strict checks on fruits and vegetable markets by the authorities as these remain the main items in their everyday plate. Citizens want it to be a regular practice and not just eyewash.
Many respondents wanted regular inspections on food items being procured from outside the state.
Respondents were sympathetic towards the local vendors and blamed the bigger players for this fishy business.
They want that those supplying the fish should take the responsibility of providing fresh fish. The local vendors have no means to check whether the fish has been laced with formalin or not, believed the respondents.
Respondents also raised their voice against other fertilizers, like urea, that is being used to fatten the fish. The G Plus Poll respondents were aware of methods being used by breeders to augment the size and shape of the fishes being sold for commercial consumption. People seem to know what they were eating, but were helpless, as they have no means to find out the quality of the consumables.
Many were also of the opinion that the ban will unnecessarily give rise to price rise of other meat items as people will switch to other options available.
They also pointed out that there were very few government employees involved with checking and testing food samples. Moreover, food testing kits were not easily available for the general public said a few.
