what is the simplest test to identify formaldehyde,
Any chemstry expert?
I would like to test this rumor, this formaldehyde thing could be a myth, could be true.
It's not a myth. It's quite true. They even do this while in the sea as the boats might return after 3 to 4 days.
This practice is also in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and even in Vietnam (in this case in Chicken)
It can be identified in fish samples using spectrophotometry or by disolving fish samples in another chemicals. But who will go for these extents unless the Government Analyst does.
See an extract from a report below.
<snip>
So widespread is this practice in Bangladesh that a Formalin Testing Centre has been set up to train administrators. Bangladesh’s Institute of Food Science and Technology has invented a Formalin Test kit and has a Formalin Test Center (FTC) situated at Kawran Bazar fish market.The group found 100% of vermicelli and citrus fruit, 95% of grapes, 91% of bananas and 90% of noodles were contaminated with formalin and other harmful chemical preservatives, as well as 82% of mangoes, 77% of dates, 75% of tomatoes, 60% of eggplant, 59% of apples and 20% of cucumbers.
<snip>
The Bengali's have developed a test strip that changes colour. Claims that it can detect quite low levels of contamination.
In HongKong there is a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment 6 months.
So it's a much bigger issue than you imagine. Formalin adulteration doesn't stop with fish.
