Food safety issues have come up a number of times for the past few years in the country. There have been allegations against renowned food producing companies of substandard food material being produced and supplied to the consumers. Every year these allegations arise and massive drives are undertaken to counter these substandard food suppliers. However, this year the problem was quite vast. Starting from traces of anti-biotic substances in milk to the ultimate action of cancelling licenses of a few companies these past few months have seen it all.
And in majority of the countries that are members of SAARC the situation is similar to Bangladesh. In February, Bangladesh’s High Court ordered the state-run Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) to submit test reports on a range of food items in response to a public interest writ petition. After the test reports resulted in the detection of 46 companies who were making substandard food the court ordered immediate removal of these items from the market and revocation of their licenses.
Every year these allegations arise
and massive drives are undertaken to
counter these substandard food suppliers
On another note, experts have opined that preservatives can be used to preserve food but that has to be regulated as to the recommended amount. However, in Bangladesh the nature of preservative application is quite extensive and unmonitored. This is clearly harmful for the human body. Moreover, there are procedures to be followed in order to extract healthy organic milk from cows. If a cow develops any symptoms which might affect the quality of the milk then they are to be separated and treated accordingly. However, only after the traces of anti-biotic have been removed completely can the cow again be allowed for milk extraction.
Meanwhile through the year there are fruit vendors across the country who supply good looking fruits to the people. But, tests have resulted in the past which showed that these fruits are covered with excess amounts of preservatives so that not even insects want to veer close to them.
The authorities concerned should locate these vested groups who are trying to misappropriate or adulterate food and are hampering the standard of food safety. Only when each member of the SAARC will look at the their own food safety standard at home properly can food safety be ensured all across the world.
