Formalin in fish?: Goa CM says fake news harmful

Amid reports about the presence of formalin in fish coming into Goa from other states, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the people should realise that fake news or rumours can be damaging.

Parrikar had yesterday tweeted that he was personally monitoring the issue of formalin in fish, after "spot analysis" of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had shown the presence of the organic compound.

A toxic chemical, formalin is used to preserve bodies and prevent its decay in mortuaries.

However, the FDA later said the formalin found in the sampled fish was "on par" with its "naturally occurring" levels and that there was no "added amount" of it.

Speaking at the Goa IT Day event where Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad unveiled the State IT policy, the CM today said he issued a statement yesterday to stop circulation of a rumour about the presence of unsafe fish in the coastal state.

Social media is abuzz with posts claiming presence of formalin in fish, the staple of Goans.

"Mobile phones have made a deeper penetration...However, there are also some drawbacks like fake news. According to a news (circulated) many times the cell phone connectivity is dangerous for humans. People want mobile phones but they don't want a (mobile phone signal) tower in their areas," he said.

Parrikar said, "People should realise that fake news does more harm or a rumour can do more harm.....Yesterday, I was keeping quiet initially (on the unsafe fish issue) but finally I had to say that don't worry I am monitoring it. That (issuing a statement) was required because the people had stopped eating fish. How can Goans live without fish?"