Adulterated rice is on sale in different markets across the country. This evil practice has added a new dimension to large-scale adulteration of food items -- fish, fruits, meat, vegetables, milk and milk products etc. A private TV channel in its evening telecast on March 11 last showed how scores of mills, set up in the northern region, are engaged in producing finer varieties of rice like Minicat, Najirshail and Kataribhog from inferior quality coarse varieties of the item. Some of the millers were found talking to the TV crew about the process of making quality rice.
The coarse varieties of rice are put in the machines which cut those into narrow pieces to look like Minicat, Najirshail and Kataribhog. The rice bran which provides nutrition to human body is at first separated by power-driven husking machines and collected for use in feeds for poultry birds and fish. The adulterators while talking to the TV reporter disclosed that certain chemical perfumes, dyes and wax are used to process rice in the machines.
A food expert examined the samples brought to him by the TV reporter at the rice research laboratory. The food scientist at the laboratory explained to the reporter what types of chemicals were used to produce quality rice. The scientist also told the reporter that the consumers who prefer to buy rice manually prepared by husking pedals are also, in many cases, deceived by the sellers. He said chemical dyes are used to this type of rice to give it a reddish look so that buyers find that it has been prepared by husking pedals keeping rice bran intact. The food scientist immersed small quantity of rice in a liquid solution kept in a glass jar. The red chemical dye used in rice was found separated and accumulated at the bottom of the jar and the white rice husked in mills was visible.
Rice is a new addition to the world of food adulteration. Despite government efforts to check adulteration of various food items, the unholy practice continues unabated. Press reports from various parts of the country say that the growers use toxic pesticides, fertilizers and a variety of other chemicals in fruits, vegetables and most of the farm produces.
In view of the large-scale use of formalin in food items health experts suggested enforcement of strict control on import of formalin to protect public health from serious hazards. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) had taken steps to ensure sale of formalin-free fish, meat and vegetables in some kitchen markets in the city. But most of the kitchen markets in different areas of the city still remain out of the purview of the FBCCI initiative.
It is known to all that the traders use formalin as a preservative in fish, fruits, meat, milk, etc. According to a report, the National Food Safety Laboratory of the Institute of Public Health(IPH) in its research has found that 40% to 54% fish, meat, milk, rice , pulse,  oil , spice and salt are adulterated with various kinds of pesticides like aldrin, DDT, heptachlor, ethion, methoxychlor and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. In 2010, IPH had found 2990 food samples out of 5759 adulterated after tests. The IPH tests, conducted later on, revealed that 187 out of 377 food samples are adulterated.
In Dhaka city we are accustomed to see that mobile courts operate at intervals to check adulteration of food items. In private TV channels we often watch how foods are being prepared with toxic chemicals in most unhygienic conditions. Such drives have failed to achieve desired results as too many eating houses are engaged in this type of practice. It is, therefore, necessary to create mass awareness against the poisonous foods.
Health Education Bureau under the ministry of health can take the lead and involve various other organisations, particularly non-government organisations (NGOs), to educate people about adulterated foods and hazards posed to human health. Electronic and print media can also play a vital role in this regard. A nation consuming foods harmful to health can hardly develop physically and mentally.
In order to protect public healths vigorous efforts must be taken by all quarters without delay to stop adulteration. Many health-conscious citizens have given up eating fruits, vegetables, liquid milk and fish for the fear of toxic substances mixed with those. This is no solution to the problem. This type of caution will tell upon their health as these foods are essential for proper growth of human beings.
(e-mail: khalilbdh@gmail.com)
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