5 Foods Sold Outside the Market That Look Fresh but Are Soaked in Formaldehyde: Eating Them Can Harm the Whole Family
Nowadays, eating safely has never been more challenging as "gold and brass are mixed together," making food safety a difficult issue for society. That’s why people now rush to buy so-called "homegrown food" for its perceived cleanliness.
However, not everything labeled "homegrown" is of good quality. When buying food, we often just rely on what looks good to the eye.
Because of food safety issues, diseases are now on the rise. Experts say, "Illness comes from the mouth," which couldn’t be more true. Therefore, when choosing food for the family, women must be extra cautious. However, it’s not easy to avoid the tricks of dishonest vendors.
Many places use formaldehyde to soak food, making it appear fresher and more appealing to buyers. However, formaldehyde has been proven to cause cancer, which is why it has long been banned in food processing.
Even though it's banned, dishonest vendors still find ways to use it. Consuming foods containing formaldehyde over time can lead to poisoning, cancer, and other serious health issues.
Recently, I read a report listing some common foods frequently sold in markets that seem fresh but are actually soaked in formaldehyde.
1. Freshwater Fish – The Bigger, the More Harmful
When shopping for fish at the market, don’t be tempted by large-sized fish. These fish are often farmed and fed with growth-promoting feed and hormones to make them grow faster. If not, they may be raised in areas with high industrial waste, absorbing toxic substances like lead, mercury, and harmful bacteria.
- If fish contain growth hormones, consuming them can cause hormonal imbalances, especially in women and children (e.g., early puberty in kids).
- If the fish are contaminated with heavy metals, they increase the risk of poisoning, leading to serious health consequences.
- Overly large and old fish tend to carry more bacteria and parasites, which can infiltrate our bodies and damage internal organs over time.
2. Overly Bright Yellow Bananas
Naturally ripened bananas have a rough skin with slight spots, ripen quickly, and develop dark patches on their peels.
However, if bananas have a bright, uniform yellow color, remain fresh for a long time, and look perfect, they might have been soaked in formaldehyde.
Regularly consuming such bananas can damage your digestive system. When formaldehyde enters the body, it can cause severe stomach pain, diarrhea, oral inflammation, esophagus irritation, stomach ulcers, and intestinal issues.
Long-term exposure can even lead to stomach bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and pancreatic disorders.
3. Vegetables That Look Too Perfect or Mushrooms That Are Too White
Vegetables should naturally have a green hue and wilt easily after harvesting and transportation.
If a vegetable looks flawless, remains fresh for too long, and has a glossy appearance, it may have been soaked in formaldehyde.
Similarly, mushrooms are naturally white, but not excessively bright. If they look unnaturally white and stay fresh for too long, they may also contain harmful chemicals.
Eating vegetables and mushrooms soaked in formaldehyde is extremely dangerous, as it can cause acute poisoning with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. If consumed in large amounts, it can lead to severe kidney damage and hospitalization.
4. Pork Blood (Tiết Canh) That Looks Too Fresh and Red
Pork blood (often used in Vietnamese blood pudding or "tiết canh") is known to be rich in protein, containing four times more protein than pork and five times more than chicken eggs.
However, it is also prone to bacterial contamination. If eaten raw, bacteria can slowly invade internal organs and cause severe infections. Many cases of severe illness and hospitalization have been linked to streptococcus infections from consuming undercooked pork blood.
Moreover, some vendors add formaldehyde and preservatives to keep pork blood looking fresh for longer.
Eating pork blood containing formaldehyde without cooking it properly is extremely dangerous because:
- Cooking reduces formaldehyde levels, but raw consumption means the chemical directly enters the body.
- In mild cases, it can cause skin allergies, vomiting, and digestive issues.
- In severe cases, it can lead to coma or even death.
5. Fish That Smell Like Kerosene
If fish emit a strong kerosene-like smell, they are highly dangerous because they may have been raised in polluted industrial water and contain toxic residues.
To remove the foul smell and make the fish look fresher, many vendors inject formaldehyde into them.
According to the Hong Kong Food Safety Center, eating fish treated with formaldehyde can cause severe stomach pain, vomiting, kidney damage, and even death.
Final Thoughts: Beware of Dangerous Foods!
These foods have been flagged by experts and the media as unsafe for consumption.
Nowadays, eating isn’t just about filling our stomachs—it’s about ensuring that the food we eat is safe. However, this is not easy, so we must always be extra cautious when selecting food.