Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution or BSTI have identified 18 substandard food products including oil, drinking water, vermicelli, salt and powdered spices of 52 brands. Among the top companies whose products have been found substandard are Pran, Danish, Well Food, Duncan, ACI Pure, Molla Salt Industries, City Oil Mill, Bangladesh Edible Oil Ltd and Kashem Food Products Ltd, according to BSTI.
BSTI came up with the list of the products at a news conference in Dhaka on Thursday after tests ahead of Ramadan. The institution covertly collected 406 samples of 27 types of products which are very common for preparation of Sahri and Iftar, according to a BSTI media release. Out of these samples, BSTI received the results of the tests for 313 samples.
As many as 52 samples have been found of substandard quality as they failed in the parameter tests. The companies that own the brands of the substandard products have already been served notices for explanation and measures will be taken against them shortly, it said. In case they are unable to provide a satisfactory reply, the owners will face the music for flooding the market with their substandard products through advertising gimmick.
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On the other hand, environmentalists appreciated the government’s move. They demanded that responsible persons should be given exemplary punishment so that others do not dare to adulterate or supply substandard products. The BSTI list of substandard products include: Mustard oil: Teer of City Oil, Rupchanda of Bangladesh Edible Oil, Pusti of Shabnam Vegetable Oil, GB of Green Blessings Oil.
Salt with adulterated iodine: ACI, Molla, Madhumati, Dada Super, Tin Teer, Madina, Starship, Taz, Noor. Lachchha vermicelli: Mishtimela, Madhuban, Mithai, Wellfood, Baghabarhi Special, Pran, Jeddah, Kiron, Amrita. Noodles: Doodley of New Zealand Dairy. Adulterated turmeric powder: Danish, Fresh, Baghabarhi Special, Pran, Sun. Coriander powder: ACI Pure. Chips: Sun of Quasem Food Products.
“Special drives will be conducted to prevent the traders from producing, marketing, and selling substandard and adulterated food products and drinks during Ramadan,” Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said. Mobile courts will be conducted in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country with the help of local administrations, officials said.
He also said legal action would be taken against the responsible persons for supplying substandard products which pose threat to public health. Besides, BSTI and Dhaka district administration will conduct three drives in the capital every day, while two drives will be conducted in district towns and upazilas. In total, 10 mobile courts of BSTI will conduct drives through 10 regional, divisional and district offices.
State minister for industries ministry, Kalam Ahmed Majumder, said legal action would be taken against those who would supply adulterated and substandard foods during Ramadan. BSTI Director General Muazzem Hossain told media, “It’s the duty of BSTI to ensure quality of the products. BSTI typically increases the anti-adulteration drives during Ramadan.”
