Poison in food items
Saturday, 13 September 2008
FOOD sellers are reportedly using poisonous chemicals in food items to make them more attractive and saleable. This is a crime that goes on unabated, despite sporadic drives against its perpetrators by mobile courts.
Mixing harmful colours in food items has almost become a market norm. And in the month of Ramadan, the iftar items are found to be, in many cases, to be full of such artificial colours. No buyer of these items is sure whether these are permitted food-grade colours.
Newspapers report that sometimes poisonous textile dyes are ingested on a regular basis. This can permanently impair the vital organs of a human body. Textile dyes, carbide and urea are used to make the iftar items look more attractive.
The concern is not just over mixing chemical colours with food-items. Fruits are also being artificially ripened by using the cancer-inducing substance called ethylene oxide. The unlimited greed of a section of traders is, thus, endangering the lives of millions.
Drives by mobile courts are not regular. So the crime is continuing. The drives against adulteration of food items should be made part of regular operation. Furthermore, a special drive is required against the large food manufacturers which are the main sources of mixing of harmful dyes and chemicals.
Sometimes the mobile courts just concentrate on freshness of food and clean environment of the shops. Actually, the personnel thereof are not fully equipped. They should be provided with all modern facilities so that no one can question their skill or wisdom. Besides, stringent law and its implementation are necessary.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka
Mixing harmful colours in food items has almost become a market norm. And in the month of Ramadan, the iftar items are found to be, in many cases, to be full of such artificial colours. No buyer of these items is sure whether these are permitted food-grade colours.
Newspapers report that sometimes poisonous textile dyes are ingested on a regular basis. This can permanently impair the vital organs of a human body. Textile dyes, carbide and urea are used to make the iftar items look more attractive.
The concern is not just over mixing chemical colours with food-items. Fruits are also being artificially ripened by using the cancer-inducing substance called ethylene oxide. The unlimited greed of a section of traders is, thus, endangering the lives of millions.
Drives by mobile courts are not regular. So the crime is continuing. The drives against adulteration of food items should be made part of regular operation. Furthermore, a special drive is required against the large food manufacturers which are the main sources of mixing of harmful dyes and chemicals.
Sometimes the mobile courts just concentrate on freshness of food and clean environment of the shops. Actually, the personnel thereof are not fully equipped. They should be provided with all modern facilities so that no one can question their skill or wisdom. Besides, stringent law and its implementation are necessary.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka