FOLLOWING a suo moto rule, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority on Wednesday submitted a test report to the High Court. According to the report, there are harmful elements in most of the 190 samples of raw and packed liquid milk, curd, and fodder. More severely, of the 96 samples of the raw milk tested, 93 had total plate and coliform counts above the permissible limits. Even chemical analysis found lead above acceptable limits in five samples, aflatoxin in three samples, tetracycline in 10 samples, ciprofloxacin in one sample, and pesticide in nine samples. People, especially children and elderly, intake milk considering its high food value, but the endless greed of dairy companies and nonchalance of the authority concern unconsciously feed us poison that ultimately lead public health epidemics.
Among the 33 samples of curds, harmful level of total plate count was found in 17 samples, coliform in six samples, yeast/mould in 17 samples, and lead in one sample. Among the 30 samples of fodder, harmful levels of chromium were found in 16 samples, aflatoxin in four samples, tetracycline in 22 samples, enrofloxacin in 26 samples, ciprofloxacin in 30 samples, and pesticide in two samples. After submitting the report, the court also ordered the Food Safety Authority to form a probe committee to identify in three months the individuals and businesses involved in adulteration of dairy products and fodder. The HC then issued a rule asking the respondents, including chairman of Food Safety Authority, members of Central Food Safety Management Coordination Committee and chairman of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, to explain why their inaction and failure in preventing adulteration and taking appropriate legal steps against it should not be declared illegal.
Other than looking after themselves, it is hard to believe that millions of people are regularly consuming milk that is most likely contaminated and contains extremely toxic substances. This could lead to a horde of diseases ranging from rash to cancer. Unfortunately, the nature of the problem is so complex that there is no easy short-term solution. But the fact that such a large percentage of milk is contaminated points to the absence of an effective monitoring mechanism which could have prevented adulterated milk from infiltrating the market.
We have to show our love for the people. It is better not to expect any control over for protecting us. Nobody sees any government efficiency anywhere.
Among the 33 samples of curds, harmful level of total plate count was found in 17 samples, coliform in six samples, yeast/mould in 17 samples, and lead in one sample. Among the 30 samples of fodder, harmful levels of chromium were found in 16 samples, aflatoxin in four samples, tetracycline in 22 samples, enrofloxacin in 26 samples, ciprofloxacin in 30 samples, and pesticide in two samples. After submitting the report, the court also ordered the Food Safety Authority to form a probe committee to identify in three months the individuals and businesses involved in adulteration of dairy products and fodder. The HC then issued a rule asking the respondents, including chairman of Food Safety Authority, members of Central Food Safety Management Coordination Committee and chairman of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, to explain why their inaction and failure in preventing adulteration and taking appropriate legal steps against it should not be declared illegal.
Other than looking after themselves, it is hard to believe that millions of people are regularly consuming milk that is most likely contaminated and contains extremely toxic substances. This could lead to a horde of diseases ranging from rash to cancer. Unfortunately, the nature of the problem is so complex that there is no easy short-term solution. But the fact that such a large percentage of milk is contaminated points to the absence of an effective monitoring mechanism which could have prevented adulterated milk from infiltrating the market.
We have to show our love for the people. It is better not to expect any control over for protecting us. Nobody sees any government efficiency anywhere.
