Response must match the malady

Dennie Quill, Contributor

What a difference a week makes! Yes, a week has passed since the capture of alleged drug dealer Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, an event which made headlines in some of the most obscure places on the planet. There are some who believe no news is bad news and to be in the news is better than the alternative. But in this instance, we paid a very high price for the world to know more about our well-entrenched garrison politics ,that embraces 'area leaders' and 'dons'. That the man known as 'Presi' was captured wearing an outdated wig and ridiculously angled spectacles, has provided much fodder for comics and relief for a tense nation.

One thing is sure though, the whole extradition saga says more about us as a nation than it says about Dudus as a person. Hopefully, we can leave these dark days behind and move forward. The nation has been so absorbed in the sequence of events that many may have missed the reports that there are suspicions that tainted fish is being sold in the Mandeville market. This news comes only months after Councillor Sally Porteous sounded the alarm that formaldehyde, the substance used for several things, including embalming the dead, was being used to preserve fish.

Experts say the effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the does, the duration, the nature of the exposure, personal traits and habits and the presence of other chemicals. According to my research, formaldehyde is naturally produced in small amounts in our bodies and it is used in the production of fertiliser, paper, plywood, and urea-formaldehyde resins. It is also used as a preservative in some foods and in many products used around the house, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics.

Effects

Low levels of formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin. It is possible that people with asthma may be more sensitive to the effects of inhaled formaldehyde. However, ingesting large amounts of formaldehyde can cause severe pain, vomiting, coma, and possible death.

So not only do councillors and housewives need to be worked up about this issue. Food safety is a public health issue and members of the public need to be assured that someone is looking after their interest. In economic-crunch times, many business people are known to cut corners as they try to make a go of their livelihood. This may include buying produce from praedial thieves, or buying meats which have not been tested.

The other outrageous incident which may have got lost as the pursuit of Dudus reached dizzying heights, is that needles were found embedded in bananas in a Clarendon market. There is a suggestion that this was one way the farmers intended to rebuff praedial thieves who steal their crops with impunity and sell them to higglers.

Needles in bananas and formaldehyde in fish are reasons enough to get scared about what exactly we are putting on our tables.

The response may simply be to not eat fish, and for some people who have signed on to a more healthy diet, this may be a problem. I believe instead of retreating, we must insist that public health inspectors be vigilant in carrying out their jobs. Finger pointing at vendors and suppliers will not help. Instead, we need to demand greater monitoring of goods intended for the market.

Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist. Send feedback to denniequill@hotmail.com