The widespread use of formalin and other chemicals in fruits and a large number of food items has caused grave public concern. Green activists after conducting a thorough examination of fruits and food items last week found toxic substances in those at an alarming level. They said that 100% of blackberries and 95% of litchis, now on sale in city markets, are treated with formalin.
The Poribesh Bachao Andolan (POBA) in its report revealed that 66% of mangoes, 59% of apples, 69% of malta and 87% of grapes also contain formalin. Relesing the findings at a press conference in the city on June 11 last, Executive Director of POBA, Abdus Subhan said that the samples of the mangoes, litchis, blackberries, apples, grapes and malta were collected from 35 different points in Dhaka city from June 01 to June 10. Samples were tested by using Z-300 Formaldehyde meter.
Mr. Subhan told the reporters that they also collected samples of some fruits from different markets in Chittagong from April 22 and 23. The fruits- sofeda, pineapple, grapes, apples, malta and oranges-were found to have been treated with formalin. Tomatoes and milk samples collected from Chittagong market have also traces of formalin.
The executive director of POBA recommended legal action against the sellers and traders of formalin-treated fruits under the Special Powers Act, implementation of Safe Food Act 2013 and establishment of a modern laboratory for testing food items mixed with formalin, calcium carbide and other chemicals.
In the backdrop of growing concern over chemically-treated fruits entering the city, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) started especial drive from June 11 last to check entry of those. The decision to conduct drives against poisonous fruits was taken at a meeting held at the DMP headquarters with the DMP commissioner Benazir Ahmed in the chair on June 10. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka, representatives from Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI), Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and the Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI) attended the meeting.
The meeting decided to set up check posts at eight entry points leading to Dhaka city. Consumption of fruits treated with formalin and other harmful chemicals is hazardous to public health. The DMP action in this connection is, therefore, welcome.
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 the 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. The 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 health, 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.
As we reported earlier in this column, if the authorities go for checking adulteration of prepared food in which harmful chemicals or dyes have been mixed leaving the main source of contamination untouched, the result of the whole exercise will not be encouraging. For example, a variety of vegetables at growers' level get contaminated in the field. In rural areas, the farmers use poisonous pesticides and harmful chemical fertilizers in their crop fields. In many places the integrated waste management programme, run by the Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the last few years, has failed to make any remarkable progress.
The poisonous pesticides and chemical fertilizers find their way into the country from across the border in larger quantities. These are sold at cheaper rates which attract the growers to use those toxic substances in the fields. Experts say ignorance and easy availability of harmful pesticides and fertilizers encourage farmers to apply those in the crops.
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Towards ensuring safe food
Khalilur Rahman | Published: June 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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