Taking action against fruit adulterators

In Bangladesh, summer comes with sweltering heat. But nature offers us a number of juicy and nutritious fruits to beat the heat and diseases in this season. These fruits boost our immune system and provide our bodies with essential vitamins and minerals. Regrettably, some unscrupulous farmers and traders are playing with our wellbeing by adulterating fruits so that they can maximise their profits. Growth hormones are being used in most of the fruits in the country to grow them within a very short time. They use calcium carbide for ripening bananas and mangoes. These chemicals are harmful for human health. The chemicals injected in fruits can cause various fatal and chronic health conditions like cancer, asthma, skin diseases, liver diseases and kidney failure.

The authorities concerned seem to be doing nothing to punish the culprits. There is no drive by law enforcers against the sale of adulterated fruit anywhere in the country. Such drives are necessary and should be carried out throughout the year. The common people are suffering and it is high time the authorities took strict measures to address this problem.

Badsha Faysal,

Jurain, Dhaka,

[email protected]