Formalin, a harmful chemical, has been found in fish being sold in the market, a study of the Central Food Laboratory said. According to the study, about 0.2mg per kg of formalin was noticed in the fish being sold in the market. The amount of formalin present is low and people can eat fish without any worries, said senior food officer at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control Promod Koirala. “There is no harm in eating a kg of fish a day,” he said, adding that the safety level was calculated based on the human body’s weight of 60 kg. Importers and traders have been using formalin to preserve fish during transportation and storage. More than 60 per cent fish sold in Nepal is imported from India and it takes three to four days to transport them. An adult can digest 12mg formalin in a day. However, consuming more amounts could be harmful, he said. The presence of formalin above the residue level causes a burning sensation in the nose and throat in the initial stage, followed by coughing and vomiting, according to World Health Organisation (WHO). Excessive or regular use of formalin contaminated food causes fluid to build up in the lungs. “Formalin is also used to clear parasites in ponds and in the fish, and that’s why its presence may have been noticed,” said joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Development Uttam Kumar Bhattarai. He assured that people could eat fish without any fear. “Our food scientists have conducted a study across the country and have found that it is safe,” he said. Similarly, histamine, a chemical that is formed when food starts decaying, was also found in the fish being sold in the market. The study found 50 mg/kg histamine. “It is also below the risk level,” said Koirala. Excessive histamine causes swelling in the muscle, according to WHO. It also causes inflammation of wounds and reduces the recovery period. Finally, it damages the muscle cells. According to Food and Agriculture Organisation, Nepalis consume 1.7 kg fish in a year