Mass food poisoning scare in Thiruvananthapuram; chemically treated fish hospitalises hundreds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A severe public health crisis has emerged in the district as hundreds of people have been hospitalised after consuming stale fish treated with hazardous chemicals. The outbreak, which has triggered widespread panic, highlights how unscrupulous vendors are exploiting the acute fish shortage caused by the ongoing seasonal trawling ban.

Residents across Aryanad, Uzhamalakkal, Parandode, and Kuttichal have fallen severely ill, with many seeking urgent medical care at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and various private hospitals. The gravity of the situation escalated as reports emerged of domestic pets dying shortly after consuming the contaminated fish.

The seasonal ban on trawling has severely restricted the availability of fresh catch, causing retail prices to skyrocket. Capitalising on the high demand and the local population's preference for seafood, vendors are reportedly mixing stale fish with minimal fresh stock and masking decomposition using chemical preservatives. Large consignments of this compromised seafood are allegedly being smuggled into Kerala through the Tamil Nadu border.

Food safety officials and health department personnel have collected fish samples from roadside vendors and major markets in the affected areas. While laboratory test results are awaited over the coming days, public outrage is mounting against enforcement agencies. Local residents allege that the Food Safety Department and the health wing have failed to conduct efficient inspections at border checkpoints and retail markets. Experts note that the supply chain is deeply compromised, often leaving local distributors entirely unaware that the imported fish has been chemically altered.

Medical professionals have warned that ammonia and formalin are the primary chemicals used to unnaturally prolong the shelf life of the fish. Although sodium benzoate is also used as a preservative, its footprint remains relatively low in the district. Ingesting food laced with these toxic substances causes immediate acute conditions such as vomiting, severe diarrhoea, and food poisoning, with children being the most vulnerable. Long-term exposure poses catastrophic health risks, including severe gastric ulcers, damage to internal organs, and potentially malignant cancers.