Staff Reporter :
The Chandina fish imported from Myanmar and Philippines is posing a serious threat to human health as a high level of heavy metals like lead and cadmium have been found in this fish. This fish looks like Hilsha, but not tasteful.
The fish seems like Hilsha is imported in the country as ‘Colombo Sad’ and ‘Gizard Sad’, according to Bangladesh Safe Food Authority (BFSA).
“As a safety food standard, 0.3 percent mg/kg lead is tolerable in any fish, but this imported fish has five times more lead. It has 1.559 to 1.699 percent lead which is seriously harmful for human health,” said BFSA Member and Joint-Secretary to the government Mahbub Kabir told a group of journalists at his office.
Mahbub Kabir said the fish also contains more than double Cadmium, which is also seriously harmful for human health.
“Such amount of lead and Cadmium are posing serious level of health risks among the people of our country,” said the BFSA member. On Monday, BFSA sent letters to Airport and Teknaf VAT Customs Commissioners Office to stop permissions to import this fish before testing.
Sources said, the traders are importing huge quantities of this fish as it is very much profitable.
One ton of Chandina fish is being imported only through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport every month, they said.
The consumers are being cheated buying this fish in the name of Hilsha. This fish is also not delicious like Hilsha. After cooking, it found bitter tastes and bad smell.
The sources also said that the importers got united to prevent the BFSA’s steps to stop import of the fish.
They also raised question whether the BFSA has any authority to send such letters asking them to stop import of the fish.
Mahbub Kabir said the BFSA has the authority to take any decision to ensure food safety. It also has right to ask any government office to take necessary measures in this regard.
