The summer season has brought various juicy and delicious fruits like mango, litchi and jackfruit naturally across the country in this current month abundantly. As we are in the middle of Bangla month of Jyestha, commonly known as ‘Modhumash’, verities of juicy fruits are now available everywhere during this time.
Many seasonal traders set up makeshift shops at markets, village huts, 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 the eye catching juicy and delicious fruits. Apart from mango, litchi and jackfruit, the blackberry, guava, musk melon, papaya, pineapple and different varieties of berries are also now available in the country.
The government must show zero
tolerance against fruit adulteration
We think the government must show zero tolerance against fruit adulteration and dishonest traders in order to make sure that consumer gets safe 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 in fruits in order to preserve them artificially. We think the quarter who, adulterates fruits by mixing formalin, a health hazardous chemical, is the enemy of the society and it is a cold blooded crime. Apart from the government, people from the all walks of life will 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 conduct campaign against the adulteration of fruits and the unscrupulous traders.
We urge the authorities concerned to set up check posts to prevent formalin and carbide-mixed fruits from entering the cities, district towns and upazila headquarters. Also, the district administration will have to prevent adulteration in the mango ripening process using harmful chemicals.
