Guwahati: Health authorities of Meghalaya on Friday flagged the issue of fungal and bacterial contamination of frozen fish, a day after the state government banned sale of fishes brought in from outside the state after sample test of river water fishes shipments showed presence of formalin.

Last month, at least 80 per cent of fish samples collected from across Meghalaya have tested positive for formalin, a colourless solution of formaldehyde in water, used chiefly as a preservative for biological specimens.

According to official, the samples have also tested positive for serious fungal and bacterial contamination.

However, 30 of the 42 samples collected in the first phase have tested positive for formalin, adding that more samples are being collected from as many markets as possible, official added.

Meanwhile, more samples are being tested at the State food lab in Shillong.

Ingestion of foods with mould contamination can cause memory loss, headache, joint pain and persistent cough, official claimed.

Currently, Meghalaya buys over 21,000 MT of fishes mostly from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam and consumes over 33,000 MT annually.