Butchers access chemicals over counter, say pharmacists

On the other hand, he said hyrogen peroxide is a very strong chemical used to kill micro-organisms that can be corrosive to eyes, hands and can cause impaired vision once consumed. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • "Those who mix it daily and spend a whole day in their butcher with this contaminated meat are actually at a higher risk of cancer,” Stella Nanyonga, CLinical pharmacist
  • Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer which starts in the upper part of the throat, behind the nose in an area called the nasopharynx. “Those who mix it daily and spend a whole day in their butcher with this contaminated meat are actually at a higher risk of cancer,” Ms Nanyonga added.

Kampala. Pharmacists have clarified on the ongoing debate whether or not formalin and hydrogen peroxid chemicals, harmful to one’s health once ingested, can be used for preservation of meat without being detected.

Mr Samuel Opio, the secretary of Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), said the chemicals fall under class C drugs which can be given over the counter without prescription required since they are also used as disinfections to clean the surfaces.

“Although a class C drug, it can also turn toxic if not used in a recommended way…also once the concentration is diluted, formalin becomes and can easily be ingested,” Mr Opio said.

There were reports last week that butchers in Kampala treated meat with formalin, a preservative for dead bodies, after the arrest of two butchers with a suspected concoction also used to keep away flies.

Other reports also pointed at hyrogen peroxide, a disinfection used to clean the surface. Dairy products have not been spared either due to their high perishability.

Although some scientists had earlier indicated that formalin has a pungent smell that is detectable if one uses it to preserve food, Mr Opio said its concentration is undetectable once used in smaller quantities.

“The argument people use does not stand. The most assured way to prove [whether it is formalin or not] is to test the drug existence by taking meat samples,” Mr Opio added.

On the other hand, he said hyrogen peroxide is a very strong chemical used to kill micro-organisms that can be corrosive to eyes, hands and can cause impaired vision once consumed.

Similarly, Ms Stella Nanyonga, a clinical pharmacist, says the formaldehyde solution in formalin even poses more health risks to people who spray it on the meat because it causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans when inhaled.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer which starts in the upper part of the throat, behind the nose in an area called the nasopharynx. “Those who mix it daily and spend a whole day in their butcher with this contaminated meat are actually at a higher risk of cancer,” Ms Nanyonga added.

In pharmacies, Mr Opio said, a bottle of formalin or hydrogen peroxide each costs Shs30, 000 in wholesale.