BSTI not playing due role in curbing adulteration of foodstuffs: CAB

The Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (CAB) alleged the Bangladesh Standards and Tensing Institute (BSTI) is not playing its due role in curbing the adulteration of foodstuffs, including the use of toxic chemicals, reports UNB.
CAB general secretary Humayun Kabir told the news agency that all the regulatory bodies of the government, including the BSTI, must play an effective role in ensuring safe foods alongside strengthening the monitoring system and mobile court drives against dishonest persons who use toxic chemicals in foodstuffs.
Asked whether the regulatory bodies are playing their due roles in checking rampant food adulteration, he answered in the negative, but said that ensuring safe foods for all depends on the government's goodwill.
He also demanded setting up of food courts in all districts in line with the Safe Food Act 2013 to ensure instant punishment to the food adulterators.
Echoing Kabir, CAB president Kazi Farruque said the authorities concerned conduct mobile court drives against food adulterators only in special cases following news reports on the issue.
He recommended implementation of the existing food safety related laws to stop the use of health hazardous chemicals in foods.
Replying to a question about the BSTI's role in reining in food adulteration, MA Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) also alleged that the regulatory body was not working efficiently.
Responding to a question what steps should be taken to check food adulteration, the BAPA secretary said: "It could be prevented if the government wants to do so. The government should take effective steps to prevent food adulteration across the country."
However, BSTI director general Iqramul Haque denied the allegations brought against them by CAB and said they are conducting a plenty of mobile court drives against food adulterators across the country, including the capital.
Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is detecting chemicals in foodstuffs, including fruits, through setting up check posts at eight entry points around the capital, he said, adding that they are taking actions, including cancellation of relevant licenses under their jurisdiction.
The BSTI DG said they will hold a seminar soon to elicit experts' opinion and fix next course of action based on the opinions.
He hoped that with the enforcement of Safe Food Act 2013 and the tentative enactment of proposed Formalin Control Act by the parliament, food adulteration will come down to a great extent.
BSTI sources said there are 155 products, including foodstuffs, under the agency's jurisdiction, of which 59 fruit items are sold in packets.
Iqramul said besides the 155 products, they, upon instructions from the government, are running activities to prevent the use of poisonous chemicals in vegetables and fishes.