Poison in daily diets
Saturday, 11 October 2008
We are exposed to serious health hazards. Dangerous and even carcinogenic substances in foods continue to be served by food chains due to a shocking negligence of the health authorities and absence of regulatory activities. The authorities need to be alert against all this.
According to a leading daily, the use of formalin in fish and milk in the kitchen markets of the city is all pervasive. The toxic chemical is used in morgues to prevent human corpses from decay. Not only in Dhaka but elsewhere in the country, too, the use of this dangerous substance is continuing due to indifference of the authorities. Some unsustained action had no lasting effect against the offenders.
Though formalin keeps fish fresh-looking, but eating such fish, according to health experts, can lead to cancer and other deadly diseases. Formalin in milk would have similar impact on consumers.
Newspapers also reported how vegetables and fruits are treated by formalin to make them look fresh. Besides, fruits are prematurely or artificially ripened by using calcium carbide, a highly toxic chemical. Pesticides, sprayed on fruits and vegetables in the growing stages, would harm consumers as well. While the spraying protects them from pests, the sprayed fruits and vegetables become toxic for humans. Traces of the pesticides remain in the fruits and vegetables even months after their spraying. Regular consumption of such fruits and vegetables could cause cancer and other serious diseases.
Media reports indicate fish bred in sewer lagoons are still sold with impunity.
It is high time to stop these deadly practices. Like the roving mobile courts against food adulteration two years ago, a sustained drive is needed to stop all these dangerous practices. The offenders need to be penalised with heavy fines and even rigorous imprisonment to discourage them from committing such crimes.
Kazim Reza
Twin Tower
Shantinagar
Dhaka
According to a leading daily, the use of formalin in fish and milk in the kitchen markets of the city is all pervasive. The toxic chemical is used in morgues to prevent human corpses from decay. Not only in Dhaka but elsewhere in the country, too, the use of this dangerous substance is continuing due to indifference of the authorities. Some unsustained action had no lasting effect against the offenders.
Though formalin keeps fish fresh-looking, but eating such fish, according to health experts, can lead to cancer and other deadly diseases. Formalin in milk would have similar impact on consumers.
Newspapers also reported how vegetables and fruits are treated by formalin to make them look fresh. Besides, fruits are prematurely or artificially ripened by using calcium carbide, a highly toxic chemical. Pesticides, sprayed on fruits and vegetables in the growing stages, would harm consumers as well. While the spraying protects them from pests, the sprayed fruits and vegetables become toxic for humans. Traces of the pesticides remain in the fruits and vegetables even months after their spraying. Regular consumption of such fruits and vegetables could cause cancer and other serious diseases.
Media reports indicate fish bred in sewer lagoons are still sold with impunity.
It is high time to stop these deadly practices. Like the roving mobile courts against food adulteration two years ago, a sustained drive is needed to stop all these dangerous practices. The offenders need to be penalised with heavy fines and even rigorous imprisonment to discourage them from committing such crimes.
Kazim Reza
Twin Tower
Shantinagar
Dhaka