| dc.description.abstract | his study was undertaken to detect formalin in Rui (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Mrigal
(Cirrhinus Cirrhosus) and Ilish (Tenualosa ilisha) from town and village markets of Sylhet and
Moulvibazar districts., where 5 markets from town of both district and 5 from villages from two
upazillas of Sylhet (Beanibazar) and Moulvibazar (Barlekha) were selected for data collection.
Formalin treatment were found maximum in Rui followed by Catla, Mrigal and Ilish in case of
both town and village markets of Sylhet and Moulvibazar. In Sylhet, 46% of Rui (56% in town
markets and 36% in village markets) were found treated with formalin. On the other hand, 40%
of Rui in Moulvibazar district were found treated with formalin where 52% Rui of town markets
and 28% Rui of village markets found contaminated with formalin. Less percent of Catla (28%
in Sylhet, 20% in Moulvibazar), Mrigal (10% in Sylhet, 8% in Moulvibazar) and Ilish (8% in
Sylhet and 6% in Moulvibazar) were found treated with formalin compared to Rui. All the town
markets (29% and 23% in Sylhet and Moulvibazar respectively) contained higher amount of
formalin treated fish rather than village markets where 17% in Sylhet and 14% in Moulvibazar
of village market fishes were found treated with formalin.Presence of formalin was found
higher in the fishes of imported source than that of domestic sources. Only 24% of domestic
Rui were found treated with formalin whereas 62% of imported Rui were contaminated with
formalin. Similar trend were followed in Catla, Mrigal and Ilish where percentage of imported
fishes was higher than domestic fishes. The present study also test the organoleptic quality of
those formalin treated fishes along with formalin free samples where formalin treated fishes
found better degree of freshness rather than formalin non-treated fishes. Some predetermined
quality characteristics and a scoring system were used to analyze the degree of freshness by
organoleptic method. Formalin treated fishes were shown higher degree of freshness, their shelf
life become extended instead of formalin non-treated fishes, so that the vendors’ purpose of
formalin use is served. This study also revealed the perception of fish sellers and the consumers
about formalin by asking some predetermined questions about formalin, its use in fish, the
formalin control act, formalin testing facility in the markets and government initiatives to
control the use of formalin etc. It is found that most of the fish vendors are unaware of the
negative impact of formalin (53.3%) as well as about the government initiatives (76.7%).
Consumers are aware of the bad impacts but they are bound to buy formalin treated fish because
of numerous reasons like shortage of locally produced fish, high price of them etc. Formalin
testing facilities are necessary in the markets to ensure less treatment was perceived by the both
seller and consumers. | en_US |
