The Dangers of Formalin

Based on monitoring results of BB-POM in Surabaya, from 91 samples of processed food

sold in the market, as many as 24 of them positive for formalin. Apart from wet noodles, other
foods that contain lots of formalin is tofu, salted fish, and fresh fish.
POM Report 2002 showed that of 29 samples of wet noodles sold in markets and
supermarkets in West Java, found in two samples (6.9 percent) contain borax, 1 sample (3.45
percent) contain formaldehyde, while 22 samples (75 , 8 per cent) contain formaldehyde and
borax. Only four samples are otherwise safe from formaldehyde and borax.
According to some producers, the use of borax in the manufacture of noodles will
produce a more chewy texture. Meanwhile, the use of formalin to produce a more durable
noodles, which can be stored up to 4 days.

What is formalin? Formaldehyde is a trade name with a solution of formaldehyde in

water content of 30-40 percent. In the market, formalin can be obtained in a diluted form, with
the degree of formaldehyde is 40, 30, 20 and 10 per cent and in the form of tablets, each
weighing approximately 5 grams. Formaldehyde is a colorless solution and a very sharp odor. In
the formalin contained approximately 37% formaldehyde in water. Usually up to 15% methanol
added as a preservative.

The use of formalin :

1. Killer germs that used for cleaning: floors, boats, warehouses, and clothing.

2. Busters flies and various other insects.

3. Material on the making of artificial silk, dyes, glass mirror, and explosives.

4. Material in the form of urea fertilizer production.

5. Material for the manufacture of perfume products.

6. Material preservative cosmetics products and nail hardener.

7. Material adhesive for plywood (plywood).

8. Liquid preservative (preservative corpse).

It will be very regrettable if we use the formalin wrong. Through a number of surveys
and laboratory examination, found a number of food products that use formaldehyde as a
preservative. Such wrong practices carried food producers or managers who are not responsible.
 Some examples of products that often contain formaldehyde such as fresh fish, chicken pieces,
wet noodle and tofu on the market. Remember, not all food products containing
formaldehyde.
It’s really pay attention because formaldehyde is a toxic material and harmful to human
health. If it implies a high body will react chemically with almost all substances in cells so that
pressing cell function and causes cell death that causes toxicity in the body. In addition, a high
content of formaldehyde in the body also causes stomach irritation, allergic, carcinogenic
(causing cancer) and mutagenic (causing changes in cell function / network), as well as those
who consume them will be vomiting, diarrhea mixed with blood, urine mixed with blood, and
deaths caused by circulatory failure. Formalin when evaporated in the air, in the form of a
colorless gas with a sharp suffocating odor, thus stimulating the nose, throat, and eyes.

Impact of formalin on human health :

1. Acute: effects on human health directly visible: like irritation, allergy, redness, watery
eyes, nausea, vomiting, burning sensation, abdominal pain and dizziness
2. Chronicles: effects on human health after exposure seen in a long time and repetitive: a
possible severe irritation, watery eyes, digestive disorders, liver, kidney, pancreas, central
nervous system, menstruation and in animal experiments can cause cancer in humans,
while suspected carcinogen (causes cancer). Consuming foods that contain formaldehyde,
its side effects seen after long-term, due to the accumulation of formaldehyde in the body.
3. When consumed by humans, formaldehyde can cause irritation to the respiratory tract,
interfere with liver function, kidney and reproductive system
4. Consumption of formaldehyde at very high doses can cause convulsions (seizures),
haematuri (urinating blood), and haimatomesis (vomiting blood), which ended with the
death
5. Formalin or formaldehyde solution (formaldehyde), which is usually for preservative
corpse, its use on food in high doses will cause irritation of the stomach, causing cancer,
kidney failure, liver, spleen and damage to body tissues.

The characteristics of food products that contain formaldehyde :

1. Tofu that looks very good, chewy, not crumbly, lasting several days and not easily rot.

2. Wet Noodle lasting several days and not easily spoiled compared with that do not contain
formaldehyde.

3. Chicken pieces are pure white color, durable and not easily rot.

4. Fish wet clean white color, chewy, dark red gills instead of fresh red, lasting up to several
days and not easily rot.