Juicy and delicious seasonal fruits have started appearing in markets across the country. Many seasonal traders set up makeshift shops at markets, village haats, bus terminals, railway stations and different strategic points in the capital Dhaka, other metropolitan cities, district towns and upazila headquarters and even village markets with eye catching juicy and delicious fruits.
However, a section of businessmen use chemicals to ripen fruits including mango, litchi and jackfruit. The government must show zero tolerance against fruit adulteration and dishonest traders in order to make sure that consumers getssafe and fresh fruits during not only this month but also throughout the year.
With the arrival of summer season, a section of unscrupulous traders start mixing formalin along with these fruits in order to preserve them artificially. Conscious parents are worried about this contamination, and not willing to give fruits to their family members.
Those who adulterate fruits
are enemy of the society
Those who adulterate fruits by mixing formalin, a health hazardous chemical, are enemy of the society and humanity and it is a cold blooded crime.
Apart from the government, people from the all walks of life will also have to forge unity against such heinous act.
If common people be more vocal and aware of the fruits adulteration, it would be possible to ensure adulteration-free safe fruits for all. Besides, all concerned will have to gear up campaign against adulteration of fruits and the unscrupulous traders.
It is very unfortunate to all of us as we have not seen this type of fruit adulteration and use of formalin in fruits in other countries. Such mixing of formalin causes fatal diseases like cancer.
The authorities concerned will have to set up check posts to prevent formalin and carbide-mixed fruits from entering the cities, district towns and upazila headquarters. Besides, the district administration will have to prevent adulteration in the mango ripening process using harmful chemicals.
Despite drives by mobile courts and directives from the authorities concerned to stop use of the chemicals, every year poison-mixed fruits arrive in markets. Hence, apart from ministries concerned, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) will also have to monitor fruit markets and warehouses across the country so that none can use chemicals on fruits.
