Anti-food adulteration drive yields little results: JS body

The official move to check food adulteration has yielded hardly any visible outcome even after the efforts by 486 government agencies to this effect.
Making this observation, the parliamentary standing committee on the food ministry held lack of coordination among the relevant agencies responsible for the situation.
"Although some 486 agencies of 18 ministries are engaged in the anti-food adulteration drive, little outcome has been visible in this regard," chairman of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) body on Food Ministry Mohammad Nasim said at a press briefing.
The briefing was held at the media centre of parliament on Wednesday to inform the newsmen about the recommendations on the attempts to control prices of essentials during Ramadan, prevention of food adulteration and to ensure safe food, after the first meeting held on April 07.
Mr Nasim said food adulteration is the main problem in Bangladesh, which has been persisting here for a long time.
Those who are involved in this offence commit a more serious crime than killing, he observed.
Referring to the price hike tendency among the businessmen here during Ramadan, he said they increase the prices of essentials during this holy month and adulterate foods.
Mr Nasim and other committee members, however, could not answer satisfactorily what were their findings on failure in making the anti-adulteration moves successful and what were the committee's recommendations regarding the price check move during Ramadan and stop food adulteration.
He said the four agendas of the election manifesto were the recommendations of the committee which the ministry will comply with.
A high-powered committee has been working to address the issue of safe and nutritious food for the citizens of the country, he added.

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