There is no correlation between the cancer spike in Goa and the illegal use of formalin to preserve fish being sold, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said late on Wednesday.

Responding to worries raised by the MLAs across party lines over the use of formalin or formaldehyde, a preservative commonly used in mortuaries to preserve cadavers, to preserve fish imported into Goa from other states.

"If we spread panic by speaking like this in the House, then people will get the wrong message," he further said.

The controversy involving use of formalin a carcinogenic chemical used to preserve cadavers in morgues in fish erupted in July last year, after an FDA team found traces of formalin in fish being sold in a South Goa fish market during a raid.