Formaldehyde Levels in Some Fish and Milk Products Obtained From Makurdi Metropolis – Benue State Nigeria

The study investigated the formaldehyde levels in some selected fish and milk products by Hantzsch spectrophotometric method using Acetoacetinalide, a ß-ketone. Twelve (12) samples namely Breast milk (fresh milk), Fresh fish, Peak milk brand (liquid), Cow milk (raw milk), Crown brand milk(powder), Cowbell brand milk (liquid and powder forms), Frozen fish, Dry fish, Smoked fish, Fried fish and Nunu brand milk(powder) were analysed. The results of the analysis were as follows 30 g Kg⁻¹ for Breast milk, 49.55 g Kg⁻¹ for Cowbell brand milk (liquid), 33.93 g Kg⁻¹ for Cowbell brand (powder), 53.45 g Kg⁻¹ for Fresh fish, 53.45 g Kg⁻¹ for Peak brand milk(liquid), 31.83 g Kg⁻¹ for Cow milk (raw milk), 66.67 g Kg⁻¹ for Crown brand milk (powder), 35.75 g Kg⁻¹ for Frozen fish, 37.96 g Kg⁻¹ for Dry fish, 37.23 g Kg⁻¹ for smoked fish, 57.36 g Kg⁻¹ for fried fish and 29.43 g kg⁻¹ for Nunu brand (powder) milk samples. These results are significant compared to the reported toxic values of 0.8 g Kg⁻¹ HCHO for humans.