Signs of formalin poisoning

Doctor Nguyen Thu Ha - Department of Nutrition and Dietetics - Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital (HCMC) said that formalin is often used to produce phenolic resin, melamine formaldehyde resin, urea-formaldehyde glue, disinfectants in hatcheries, ponds, preservatives for human and animal organs used as research samples...

"Formula is a highly toxic substance. When our bodies are exposed to a lot of formalin, it will cause many dangerous complications that affect our health such as pneumonia, gastritis, skin necrosis... and can even cause cancer when exposed for a long time," Dr. Ha emphasized.

Signs of formalin poisoning can be observed as watery eyes, increased salivation, sore throat, dry cough, difficulty breathing; increasing nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, vomiting blood, mouth pain, blood in urine; impaired motor coordination, tremors in limbs, unsteady gait; decreased blood pressure, rapid heart rate, loss of consciousness, and even coma.

Some notes when choosing food

Dr. Ha said it is very difficult to detect foods containing formaldehyde with the naked eye. Therefore, when buying food, we should choose fresh foods that are soft to the touch and not dry and hard. There are some points to note as follows:

For fish: When you press lightly on the fish, if it feels soft, has high elasticity, the fish meat is firm, and sticks tightly to the bones, then it is likely that the fish does not contain formalin. You should choose fish with a less slimy body, a characteristic fishy smell, bright red or dark red color, bright, clear and slightly convex eyes. The fish is stored at cold temperatures with ice or in a refrigerator.

Do not choose fish that have gills that are no longer bright red or dark red, soft, loose meat that does not stick to the bones, an intact belly, easily peeling scales, and an unusual fishy smell.

For shrimp, squid, octopus : Choose fresh ones that are preserved with ice, have little slime, are whole, and have heads that are tightly attached to the body; feel naturally tight when touched, and have high elasticity; have a characteristic fishy smell, and no strange odors (such as urine, pungent odors, foul odors, etc.). For squid and octopus, the eyes are still clear and slightly bulging. Do not buy seafood that looks fresh on the outside but feels soft, mushy, and has poor elasticity when touched. When processed, the meat is mushy and lacks the characteristic sweetness and aroma.

With vermicelli and pho noodles : If vermicelli and pho noodles do not contain formalin, when touching the vermicelli or pho noodles, they will be slightly crushed, easily broken, and will feel a bit sticky and soft. When containing formalin, the noodles will be more chewy and crispy, difficult to break, will not feel sticky and soft to the touch, and will not have the mild sour smell of soaked rice...

"In addition, you should wash food thoroughly under running water because formalin dissolves in water, which helps to reduce it somewhat. It should be noted that formalin is also formed when grilling or smoking food... so limit the consumption of pre-smoked or grilled foods," Dr. Ha noted.