Govt initiative against marketing of adulterated food urged
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Speakers at a roundtable Saturday urged the government to take strong measures to stop marketing of milk foods and products contaminated by melamine and other dangerous elements, reports BSS.
In this regard, they called for forming an independent body under the Ministry of Food to continue regular examination and monitoring of such food items being marketed in the country.
The roundtable titled "Melamine in Milk and Adulterated Food: Actions in Current Situation," was organised by the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) with eminent writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud in the chair.
Professor Abu Zafar Mohammad and Professor Nilufar Nahar of Dhaka University, chairman of PABA Abu Naser Khan and secretary general of the Citizens Rights Movement Tusar Rehman, among others, addressed the function.
They urged the government to immediately enact the Consumers Rights Act with provisions of compensation for the consumers who would face health hazards by eating contaminated food.
In this respect, they emphasised the need for countrywide campaign against the adulterated food items and said the people should also be made aware about the extent of damage that could be caused by such food to their health.
Prof Abu Zafar Mohammad called for identifying the food containing contaminated elements and said the scientists could determine the possible impacts of toxic elements in the human body.
Prof Nilufar Nahar said the government could confirm presence or absence of melamine in any food item through a transparent examination. "World standard machines can certainly confirm the presence or absence of melamine in milk and milk products," she said.
In this regard, they called for forming an independent body under the Ministry of Food to continue regular examination and monitoring of such food items being marketed in the country.
The roundtable titled "Melamine in Milk and Adulterated Food: Actions in Current Situation," was organised by the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) with eminent writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud in the chair.
Professor Abu Zafar Mohammad and Professor Nilufar Nahar of Dhaka University, chairman of PABA Abu Naser Khan and secretary general of the Citizens Rights Movement Tusar Rehman, among others, addressed the function.
They urged the government to immediately enact the Consumers Rights Act with provisions of compensation for the consumers who would face health hazards by eating contaminated food.
In this respect, they emphasised the need for countrywide campaign against the adulterated food items and said the people should also be made aware about the extent of damage that could be caused by such food to their health.
Prof Abu Zafar Mohammad called for identifying the food containing contaminated elements and said the scientists could determine the possible impacts of toxic elements in the human body.
Prof Nilufar Nahar said the government could confirm presence or absence of melamine in any food item through a transparent examination. "World standard machines can certainly confirm the presence or absence of melamine in milk and milk products," she said.