2023-05-10 11:29:27
Suspicions of the use of formaldehyde by some butchers have been circulating in recent days on social networks and are worrying consumers. Faced with the controversy, the Ministry of Livestock held a press conference yesterday in Ampandrianomby.
More often used to embalm and preserve corpses in morgues, formalin is also used by some butchers to extend the shelf life of meat that they have not been able to sell. This is obviously food fraud. The use of formalin is not a new phenomenon, due to electricity and economic problems, butchers and traders use formalin on meats because it repels flies and preserves food.
According to the explanations of the Deputy Minister of Livestock, Dr. Raymond, the use of formalin on meat is not verified. Meat for sale on the market is systematically checked by veterinary inspectors, he says. After checking the quality of the products, a certificate of conformity and sale is issued. The meats are then stamped with a blue seal, certifying their consumability.
According to this ministry, the purchase of formalin is also regulated and this product would only be accessible under prescription or medical prescription. He also claims that its use would be easily detectable by consumers. In the event of proven use, the ministry suggests that the consumer notify the competent authorities. However, some studies show that the detection of formalin in food is not within the reach of the individual. Formalin does not have a strong odor when used in minimal concentrations, but it is still harmful to health. If we are to believe the words of the Ministry of Livestock, the suspicions of use of formalin would not be well founded and are only intended to spread false information.
For its part, the Ministry of Industrialization, Commerce and Consumption (MICC) is taking the matter more seriously. Yesterday, trade controllers raided the Ankadindratomboa slaughterhouse. From this day on, they will be deployed in the capital’s markets for investigations at butcher’s stalls. Laboratory analyzes will be planned on samples of meat sold. The results will come out in two or three days and can confirm or invalidate these suspicions, reports the MICC.
The director of the consumer protection department (DPV), Laurencia Razanadrakoto recalls that food fraud is an offense liable to legal proceedings.
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