Milk without nutrition
Saturday, 16 August 2008
THE recent findings of the Consumer's Association of Bangladesh (CAB) were shocking, to say the least. A thorough testing, by CAB, showed that 16 out of 18 branded powdered and pasteurised milk were of substandard quality. They included nearly all the popular brands. They lacked in the vital nutrients for which milk is usually taken by consumers. The question is whether the nutritional needs of people are being met from drinking such milk or whether they are getting their money's worth.
It is high time take action against marking such milk, endangering public health. Consumers at the moment have no choice. They cannot do without milk. They consume it without knowing that they cannot get nourishment from it. Only drives by mobile courts from time to time can help bring about a positive change.
The actions by mobile court must not be limited to only examining the food items and warning the offenders. Such offenders must pay heavy cash fines or suffer imprisonment so that neither they nor others can think of doing it again. The sellers of the hazardous foods need to be made aware of what great harm they are doing to the unsuspecting consumers.
A comprehensive consumer protection act remains stalled long. Its adoption and enforcement will provide the legal basis for taking action against producers and caterers of adulterated and substandard food.
Kabita Rahman
Gulshan, Dhaka
It is high time take action against marking such milk, endangering public health. Consumers at the moment have no choice. They cannot do without milk. They consume it without knowing that they cannot get nourishment from it. Only drives by mobile courts from time to time can help bring about a positive change.
The actions by mobile court must not be limited to only examining the food items and warning the offenders. Such offenders must pay heavy cash fines or suffer imprisonment so that neither they nor others can think of doing it again. The sellers of the hazardous foods need to be made aware of what great harm they are doing to the unsuspecting consumers.
A comprehensive consumer protection act remains stalled long. Its adoption and enforcement will provide the legal basis for taking action against producers and caterers of adulterated and substandard food.
Kabita Rahman
Gulshan, Dhaka