Alleged sale of spoiled fish: authorities to intensify scrutiny of fish markets in Kozhikode

Image for representational purposes only. Complaints over the alleged sale of spoiled fish and suspected use of toxic chemical preservatives to prolong its shelf life by traders have prompted the authorities to intensify scrutiny of fish markets in Kozhikode district, with many consumers questioning the quality of stocks sold at the prevailing market prices.Food Safety squads and the Health authorities are closely monitoring fish markets and storage and transportation practices amid allegations that poor-quality consignments brought from other States are entering the local market.Low-priced stocks are reportedly finding buyers among roadside eateries engaged in large-scale packaged food supply. A few local fish traders have welcomed the checks, arguing that the influx of cheaper fish from other States has affected their business and created unfair competition.According to officials, inadequate refrigeration and failure to maintain proper cold-chain facilities are among the reasons for fish spoilage, and that several such incidents were reported last year. Fish transported over long distances without adequate temperature control can deteriorate rapidly, particularly in hot weather. Improper storage at wholesale and retail outlets can further accelerate the process, they say.The current inspections are covering storage facilities in hotels and restaurants amid concerns that fish purchased weeks or months earlier might be kept under unsuitable conditions. Inter-State vehicles transporting fish are also to be checked at various points to assess the quality of their consignments, apart from conducting inspections at harbours and fish landing centres to assess the quality of fish auctioned daily.“The suspected use of formalin and other chemicals to preserve fish has added to consumer anxiety. Many believe that fish treated with chemicals is being sold in the local market triggering health problems, including diarrhoea,” says Shabeer Ali, a fish trader from Vellayil. He points out that there should be scientific inspections to protect genuine traders and expose the unscrupulous ones.Food Safety department officials say that formalin is prohibited as a food additive. Rapid test kits developed by the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology are available to detect its presence in fish. Testing strips are also used to screen for suspected chemical contamination, including formalin and ammonia, they say.Meanwhile, wholesale traders in Kozhikode city point out that consumers can easily assess freshness to some extent by examining the eyes, gills, flesh, and smell of fish. Clear eyes, appropriately coloured gills, firm flesh, and the absence of an unpleasant odour are generally considered indicators of freshness, they claim. Published - October 11, 2026 08:44 pm IST