Hazardous daily foods
Saturday, 18 October 2008
The latest in the detection of toxic substances entering human bodies in Bangladesh through the food chain is melamine. This substance for industrial application has been found by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in at least eight popular brands of powdered milk after tests in its laboratories. Such powdered milk continues to be consumed on a large scale and daily basis by Bangladeshi consumers without any knowledge that it contains a dangerous ingredient in it that can cause cancer on human bodies not to speak of other ailments.
Melamine in powdered milk is but another addition now to the awareness of consumers about the poisons they are taking on daily basis in their meals, snacks and drinks. The food adulteration in Bangladesh has reached a critical state from the standpoint of public health. The adulteration activities in many cases are too pervasive and too dangerous to be considered as within the realm of the acceptable. Public indignation and concern about their health-ruining activities have reached an alarming high point for the obvious reasons. Consumers in this hapless country are now largely at the mercy of many unethical food producers who can be considered to have not the least conscience about the consequences or the enormity of their crimes.
Sometime ago, a seminar focused on how people's health was endangered from the continuous consumption of toxic foods. Doctors and specialists who participated in the seminar, drew attention to their findings of increased cases of cancer, liver diseases, skin and other diseases they were noting in the country. They linked, in good many cases, the same to unabated consumption of risky foods and food preparation items. Indeed, high concern was voiced in the seminar about the state of the health of the entire population from always taking such hazardous foods.
Already, the health of a large number in the population has been seriously undermined from such toxic consumption. Experts are fearing that many of the newborn in Bangladesh are showing too early signs of disease and disablement as the health disorders of their parents from risky food consumption are transmitted genetically and otherwise to babies through their parents. Thus, the threat of a young population with shattered health and disabilities also looms large. Good human health needs to be counted as among the major assets for driving up economic activities or production. But Bangladesh is losing on both counts by requiring a great many number in its population to take costly medical treatment from consuming adulterated foods and also from the declining productivity of these people. With the health of the new generations coming more and more under such threat, the needless drain of resources and loss of national productivity, are seen to be posing worse threats even in the near future.
Therefore, it is imperative for the government to crack down on all forms of food adulteration and allied activities. First of all, massive awareness must be created among the consumers of food preparation items and other risky foods about what poisons they are eating every day. The awareness itself can be a form of deterrent and the starting point of building up resistance. At the same time, a relentless drive must be started and sustained on a long term basis against adulteration of food and other consumption items such as medicines. The drive should lead to identification of the offenders and also lead to their getting subjected to heavy fines and long-term rigorous imprisonment and other harsh punishment. Provisions for the same are there in the existing laws and the newly passed consumer protection ordinance. Enforcement of these laws extensively and sternly should be among the highest governmental priorities. The BSTI's capacities to monitor adulteration of various types of consumption goods must also be much increased. It should have a enough standard testing facilities, with adequate manpower and equipment, at the district level.
Melamine in powdered milk is but another addition now to the awareness of consumers about the poisons they are taking on daily basis in their meals, snacks and drinks. The food adulteration in Bangladesh has reached a critical state from the standpoint of public health. The adulteration activities in many cases are too pervasive and too dangerous to be considered as within the realm of the acceptable. Public indignation and concern about their health-ruining activities have reached an alarming high point for the obvious reasons. Consumers in this hapless country are now largely at the mercy of many unethical food producers who can be considered to have not the least conscience about the consequences or the enormity of their crimes.
Sometime ago, a seminar focused on how people's health was endangered from the continuous consumption of toxic foods. Doctors and specialists who participated in the seminar, drew attention to their findings of increased cases of cancer, liver diseases, skin and other diseases they were noting in the country. They linked, in good many cases, the same to unabated consumption of risky foods and food preparation items. Indeed, high concern was voiced in the seminar about the state of the health of the entire population from always taking such hazardous foods.
Already, the health of a large number in the population has been seriously undermined from such toxic consumption. Experts are fearing that many of the newborn in Bangladesh are showing too early signs of disease and disablement as the health disorders of their parents from risky food consumption are transmitted genetically and otherwise to babies through their parents. Thus, the threat of a young population with shattered health and disabilities also looms large. Good human health needs to be counted as among the major assets for driving up economic activities or production. But Bangladesh is losing on both counts by requiring a great many number in its population to take costly medical treatment from consuming adulterated foods and also from the declining productivity of these people. With the health of the new generations coming more and more under such threat, the needless drain of resources and loss of national productivity, are seen to be posing worse threats even in the near future.
Therefore, it is imperative for the government to crack down on all forms of food adulteration and allied activities. First of all, massive awareness must be created among the consumers of food preparation items and other risky foods about what poisons they are eating every day. The awareness itself can be a form of deterrent and the starting point of building up resistance. At the same time, a relentless drive must be started and sustained on a long term basis against adulteration of food and other consumption items such as medicines. The drive should lead to identification of the offenders and also lead to their getting subjected to heavy fines and long-term rigorous imprisonment and other harsh punishment. Provisions for the same are there in the existing laws and the newly passed consumer protection ordinance. Enforcement of these laws extensively and sternly should be among the highest governmental priorities. The BSTI's capacities to monitor adulteration of various types of consumption goods must also be much increased. It should have a enough standard testing facilities, with adequate manpower and equipment, at the district level.