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Food Science and Technology Vol. 13(1), pp. 1 - 14
DOI: 10.13189/fst.2025.130101
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Formalin (CH₂O) Contamination in Seafood and Frozen Meat Imported into Timor-Leste

Acacio Cardoso Amaral ^1,2, Rui Daniel de Carvalho ², Stefany S. A. Fernandez ³, Graciano Soares Gomes ^4,*, Louren莽a Mendon莽a ^5
1 Department of Animal Production, Escola Superior Agronomia e Zoot茅cnica (ESAZ), Instituto Polit茅cnico de Betano (IPB), Timor-Leste
² Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL), Timor-Leste
³ Department of Pharmacy, Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan, Kupang, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL), Timor-Leste
⁵ Health Financing Unit (HFU), Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste

ABSTRACT

Studies were carried out to detect formalin contamination and the levels of formalin contamination in imported seafood, frozen meat, and a few locally produced foods. One hundred and twenty-one (121) imported seafood and frozen meat samples from supermarkets situated within Dili city were purchased and tested using Colorimetric determination with a color card and sliding comparator. Formalin was detected in all the supermarkets surveyed and also in the locally produced seafood. Meat and fish are contaminated at different levels. The highest contamination (50%) was found in fish with 13 positive samples with a contamination level of 2.25 mg/kg to 25.5 mg/kg. The second highest (23.1%) level of formalin contamination was found in chicken with 6 samples positive with different levels of contamination varied between 0.9 mg/kg to 9 mg/kg. The third most contaminated with formalin was detected in prawn/shrimp with 3 samples positive at different levels of contamination varied between 2.25 mg/kg to 13.50 mg/kg. The level of contamination is mostly above the maximum limit of 5 mg/kg and poses a threat to public health in Timor-Leste.

KEYWORDS
Formaldehyde, Formalin, Fish, Meat, Seafood

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Acacio Cardoso Amaral , Rui Daniel de Carvalho , Stefany S. A. Fernandez , Graciano Soares Gomes , Louren莽a Mendon莽a , "Formalin (CH₂O) Contamination in Seafood and Frozen Meat Imported into Timor-Leste," Food Science and Technology, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 1 - 14, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/fst.2025.130101.

(b). APA Format:
Acacio Cardoso Amaral , Rui Daniel de Carvalho , Stefany S. A. Fernandez , Graciano Soares Gomes , Louren莽a Mendon莽a (2025). Formalin (CH₂O) Contamination in Seafood and Frozen Meat Imported into Timor-Leste. Food Science and Technology, 13(1), 1 - 14. DOI: 10.13189/fst.2025.130101.