There has been a lot of controversy around the various poisons finding their way into our food. Banned pesticides were present in alarming quantities in almost every kind of food available in the market. Apart from pesticides, ripening agents and preservatives like formalin (formaldehyde) are found in fish, herbs, vegetables and fruits.
Formalin, the most common poison in foods we consume is basically use to prevent corpses from decaying. They're also used in labs and at morgues of medical colleges to preserve lab specimens. This poison has a spectrum of uses in industry and science, but in Bangladesh the main use is to preserve fruits, vegetables and fish.
The chemical does not stop fruit from going bad, it slows down decay. And by the time we bring home the fresh looking apple, it has lost all its nutritional value; though it won't go bad any time soon, the formalin in it can lead to cancers like leukemia.
The reports we read in the papers are on the food we purchase from bazaars and supermarkets. A study into food we purchase from places like bakeries, restaurants and fast food stores may reveal a much grimmer picture.
The question now is, what can we eat? While we can't just stop eating we can take a few steps at home to reduce the effects of these poisons in our bodies.
Cleaning fruits and vegetables
35 per cent of all fruit including mangoes have been found contaminated with formalin.
Immerse all fruit in a container of water for an hour before consumption. This will remove the formalin and have no effect on the taste. Remember to consume fruits treated this way soon; they will not last as long as their formalin laden counterparts. Colouring and chemicals in watermelons has led to the deaths of two children; watermelons should be cut a little at the store to check for excessive colouring. Taste and see if there are any chemicals present.
Other pesticides which may be present in fruits and vegetables can be reduced by keeping the fruits or vegetables you have immersed in water or in warm water and a very little bit of dishwashing soap like Vim. Rinse thoroughly with plain water afterwards.
Instead of soap you can also wash fruits in salt water (one teaspoon salt for each cup of water). Remember to wash off the salt water afterwards.

You can even wash fruits in diluted vinegar. Add a cup of vinegar to 3 cups of water and spray on the fruit or vegetables. Let it stand for 30 minutes and then wash the fruits thoroughly.
There are some products that can be bought to wash fruits and vegetables like potassium permanganate. This is available at most pharmacies and grocery stores as “potash”. Add enough potassium permanganate to a bucket of water to make a very slight pink tinge. Too much of this can be harmful so make sure the colour is not more than a tinge. Soak all fruits and vegetables for five minutes after which you have to thoroughly rinse them.
Peel off the skins of fruit if possible. Get rid of outer layers of vegetables like cabbage.
Fish
If you are living in Dhaka you may have seen big trucks that advertise that they sell formalin free fish. There are also supermarkets advertising the same. Since you can never really be sure, it's more sensible to try these steps out before consuming any fish.
Immerse all fish in tap water for an hour. This may remove up to 60 per cent of all formalin and not affect the taste. If you add salt to this water, up to 90 per cent of the formalin can be removed.
A mixture of 90 per cent vinegar and 10 per cent water can completely remove all traces of formalin in 15 minutes but it may also affect the taste.
Shopping guide
Buy local produce and eat only seasonal fruits and vegetables. Imported fruits and vegetables may be exotic and delicious but they are more like to have pesticides and preservatives.
Look out for shops that have been tested for formalin.
If you have the space to do so, grow your own vegetables. Palong shaak (spinach) of different varieties can be grown quickly and easily from a flower pot on the roof or in a balcony. They are delicious and you can be sure it's safe. This is important especially if you have young children. Encourage your child to water the plants and feel like they are part of the growing process. It will be much easier to feed your children vegetables if they feel like they had a part to play in raising it.

If you live in a small town, you will find it easier to buy vegetables that are safe. Those who live in the city, find relatives or friends in villages who would be willing to send them fresh vegetables or local fruit weekly or every fortnightly directly from farmers or from trustworthy traders in exchange for payment. You can also source chicken or fish this way.
While buying fish, look for fish that feels tender to the touch and have that fishy smell. Buying live fish is also a good option. Remember that fish with formalin will have a rubbery hard texture, clear eyes, red gills, no fishy smell and no flies flying around. Flies are repelled by formalin.
As consumers you have the right to demand chemical-free products and you should hold supermarkets and open market sellers responsible and accountable for what they are selling.  It is not just about stopping purchases from a bad market/seller and switching to someone else, but also about ensuring that the larger community is not in harm's way.  If we the consumers are responsible, the stores and the producers will have no other choice but to stop the supply of chemical-filled foods.  
For more information and medical advice on food related issues, please post your query on Maya Apa Ki Bole: maya.com.bd

By Dr Naomi Mirza, Medical Consultant, www.maya.com.bd
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed