Editing Formaldehyde (section)

==Contaminant in food==
Formaldehyde in food can be present naturally, added as an inadvertent contaminant, or intentionally added as a preservative, disinfectant, or [[bacteriostatic agent]].  Cooking and smoking food can also result in formaldehyde being produced in food.  Foods that the [[U.S. National Toxicology Program]] has reported to have higher levels compared to other foods are fish, seafood, and smoked ham.  It also notes formaldehyde in food generally occurs in a bound form and that formaldehyde is unstable in an [[aqueous solution]].
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Scandals have broken in both the [[2005 Indonesia food scare]] and [[2007 Vietnam food scare]] regarding the addition of formaldehyde to foods to extend shelf life. In 2011, after a four-year absence, Indonesian authorities found foods with formaldehyde being sold in markets in a number of regions across the country.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/74626/formaldehyde-laced-foods-reemerge-in-indonesian-markets | title = Formaldehyde-laced foods reemerge in Indonesian markets | date = 2011-08-10 | work = antaranews.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181025145949/https://en.antaranews.com/news/74626/formaldehyde-laced-foods-reemerge-in-indonesian-markets | archive-date = 2018-10-25 | url-status = live}}</ref> In August 2011, at least at two [[Carrefour]] supermarkets, the Central [[Jakarta]] Livestock and Fishery Sub-Department found [[cendol]] containing 10 [[parts per million]] of formaldehyde.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/health/formaldehyde-tainted-rice-drinks-found-at-carrefour-markets/460829 | title = Formaldehyde-Tainted Rice Drinks Found at Carrefour Markets | work = Jakarta Globe | date = 2011-08-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120928141807/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/health/formaldehyde-tainted-rice-drinks-found-at-carrefour-markets/460829 | archive-date = 2012-09-28 | url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2014, the owner of two noodle factories in [[Bogor]], Indonesia, was arrested for using formaldehyde in noodles.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/bpom-uncovers-two-formaldehyde-tainted-noodle-factories-bogor/ | title = BPOM Uncovers Two Formaldehyde-Tainted Noodle Factories in Bogor | work = Jakarta Globe | date = 2014-10-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150801225636/http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/bpom-uncovers-two-formaldehyde-tainted-noodle-factories-bogor/ | archive-date = 2015-08-01 | url-status = dead}}</ref> Foods known to be contaminated included noodles, salted fish, and tofu. Chicken and beer were also rumored to be contaminated. In some places, such as China, manufacturers still use formaldehyde illegally as a preservative in foods, which exposes people to formaldehyde ingestion.<ref>
* {{cite journal | last1 = Tang | first1 = Xiaojiang | last2 = Bai | first2 = Yang | last3 = Duong | first3 = Anh | last4 = Smith | first4 = Martyn T. | last5 = Li | first5 = Laiyu | last6 = Zhang | first6 = Luoping | title = Formaldehyde in China: Production, consumption, exposure levels, and health effects | journal = Environment International | volume = 35 | issue = 8 | year = 2009 | pages = 1210–1224 | issn = 0160-4120 | doi = 10.1016/j.envint.2009.06.002| pmid = 19589601| bibcode = 2009EnInt..35.1210T }}
* see references cited on p. 1216 above
* {{cite news | title = Municipality sees red over bad blood processing | date = 2011-03-18 | url = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/18/content_12189671.htm | work = China Daily | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232323/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/18/content_12189671.htm | archive-date = 2018-10-24 | url-status = live}}
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In 2011 in [[Nakhon Ratchasima]], Thailand, truckloads of rotten chicken were treated with formaldehyde for sale in which "a large network", including 11 slaughterhouses run by a criminal gang, were implicated.<ref>{{cite news | title = Illegal business 'being run by a gang' | date = 2011-06-16 | url = http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/06/16/national/Illegal-business-being-run-by-a-gang-30157928.html | work = The Nation | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616192558/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/06/16/national/Illegal-business-being-run-by-a-gang-30157928.html | archive-date = 2011-06-16 | url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2012, 1&nbsp;billion rupiah (almost US$100,000) of fish imported from [[Pakistan]] to [[Batam]], Indonesia, were found laced with formaldehyde.<ref>{{cite news | title = Import of formaldehyde fish from Pakistan foiled in Batam| date = 2012-02-23 | url = http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/02/23/import-formaldehyde-fish-pakistan-foiled-batam.html | work = The Jakarta Post | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032155/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/02/23/import-formaldehyde-fish-pakistan-foiled-batam.html | archive-date = 2018-12-16 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Formalin contamination of foods has been reported in [[Bangladesh]], with stores and supermarkets selling fruits, fishes, and vegetables that have been treated with formalin to keep them fresh.<ref>{{cite news | title = Trader Fined for Selling Fish Treated with Formalin | date = 2009-08-31 | url = https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-103948 | work = The Daily Star | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190429100540/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-103948 | archive-date = 2019-04-29 | url-status = live}}</ref> However, in 2015, a ''Formalin Control Bill'' was passed in the [[Jatiyo Sangshad|Parliament of Bangladesh]] with a provision of life-term imprisonment as the maximum punishment as well as a maximum fine of 2,000,000 [[Bangladeshi taka|BDT]] but not less than 500,000 [[Bangladeshi taka|BDT]] for importing, producing, or hoarding formalin without a license.<ref>{{cite news | title = Formalin Control Bill 2015 passed | date = 2015-02-16 | url = http://en.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/923/Formalin-Control-Bill-2015-passed | work = ntv online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180323012557/http://en.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/923/Formalin-Control-Bill-2015-passed | archive-date = 2018-03-23 | url-status = dead | access-date = 2015-03-04}}</ref>

In the early 1900s, formaldehyde was frequently added by US milk plants to milk bottles as a method of pasteurization due to the lack of knowledge and concern<ref>{{Cite book |last=Blum |first=Deborah |title=The poison squad: one chemist's single-minded crusade for food safety at the turn of the twentieth century |date=2018-09-25 |publisher=[[Penguin Group | Penguin Press]] |others= |isbn=9781594205149 |location=New York, New York |oclc=1024107182}}</ref> regarding formaldehyde's toxicity.<ref>{{cite news | title = Was Death in the Milk? | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/888392/formaldehyde_in_milk/ | newspaper = The Indianapolis News | date = 1900-07-31 | page = 5 | via = Newspapers.com | access-date = 2014-08-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181117064648/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/888392/formaldehyde_in_milk/ | archive-date = 2018-11-17 | url-status = live}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Wants New Law Enacted. Food Inspector Farnsworth Would Have Use of Formaldehyde in Milk Stopped | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/888394/formaldehyde_in_milk/ | newspaper = The Topeka Daily Capital | date = 1903-08-30 | page = 8 | via = Newspapers.com | access-date = 2014-08-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181117052444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/888394/formaldehyde_in_milk/ | archive-date = 2018-11-17 | url-status = live}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Formaldehyde was one of the chemicals used in 19th century industrialised food production that was investigated by Dr. [[Harvey W. Wiley]] with his famous 'Poison Squad' as part of the [[US Department of Agriculture]]. This led to the 1906 [[Pure Food and Drug Act]], a landmark event in the [[early history of food regulation in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meadows |first=Michelle |date=January 2006 |title=A Century of Ensuring Safe Foods and Cosmetics |url=https://www.fda.gov/media/110464/download |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306005343/https://www.fda.gov/media/110464/download |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2021 |journal=FDA Consumer |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=6–13 |pmid=16528821 |format=PDF}}</ref>