In the recent past, the media was washed by stories about the deadly chemical formalin being used by butchers to preserve meat. This culminated in operations by KCCA against the perpetrators. When consumed in large quantities over time, experts say formalin causes throat cancer, cancer of the liver, cancer of the intestines, blindness and many other complications. "It can damage the nose, it can damage the tube which takes air into the lungs, and it can damage the lung sacks and so on and so forth. Then when it is taken in food, it can damage what we call gastrin tract where the food passes to eventually be changed into the stool and is passed as the stool that one can also get damaged. Apart from that, it can even cause cancer once one is overexposed to it can get cancer anywhere." Said, Dr. Vincent Karuhanga – ED Friends Poly Clinic.
But according to Dr. Vincent Karuhanga, the solution to the deadly chemical consumed is in the drink that many take for leisure unknowingly stimulating a reaction that dysfunctions the chemical. Food poisoning and food contamination remain one of the topical discussions in the country with the deadly chemical formalin being used by butchers to preserve meat and although the environment denies this allegation, experts say that the solution is simple, alcohol. “People who eat meat when they are taking alcohol are better off because alcohol we take is ethanol and formalin contain forma hydride and ethanol. Forma hydride and methanol are eventually changed into formic acid which is dangerous from the eyes. But for these processes to happen they use an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. Now, this alcohol hydrogenase also works on alcohol.” For the none alcohol consumers, Karuhanga said there are other conventional ways of reducing the chemical content such as washing the meat, cooking thoroughly and avoid eating meat in large quantities. “Put it in water, after you’ve put it in water wash your meat properly and after that boil it because it can form fumes much of the formalin can come out. And in any case, your meat tastes funny please abandon it.”
Even when the meat and other players in the industry continue to deny using the deadly chemical, Dr. Karuhanga said that it is common knowledge that many chemicals are being used and will only deny protecting their businesses. “The most important thing now is not about denial or about acceptance, the most important thing is controls are put and the authorities to be much more responsible to make sure that these controls are actually in place and adhered to and if they are not adhered to they take measures.” He cautioned the authorities to be on the watch out since there are other deadly chemicals being introduced by the butchers that are as deadly as formalin. Another preservation Sodium Metal Bi-Sulphate which is being used and it is also equally dangerous. Now, that Sodium Bi-Sulphate mostly preserves meats so that the meat looks even better than the way you found it. So it is not very easy to detect and they will tell you that they are using it only to chase the flies but you will find that it is spread on the meat so that the meat looks better.
