Anisul Islam Noor :The dishonest traders are making money by marketing adulterated food items specially vermicelli, as there is none to punish them.According to sources, sub-standard vermicelli like Sada Semai (whitevermicelli), Lachchha Semai and Ghiye Bhaza Semai (butter oil-fried vermicelli) are prepared in so-called vermicelli factories just behind the bakeries and confectioneries across the country.These dishonest businessmen produce vermicelli without applying the guidlines set by the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI) with a view to making windfall profit. Sources said the sub-standard vermicelli is produced in manually operated machines. The producers seal the item in colourful packets to draw attraction of the consumers and market them in cities and rural areas.According to physicians, vermicelli produced in unhygienic condition using sub-standard materials pose serious health hazards to consumers.Sources said, the production of vermicelli goes on secretly keeping the main entrance of fake factories under lock and key. Workers knead the dough used in making the item with their legs in unhygienic environment. Many of such factories dry vermicelli under the open sky in dirty places where stray dogs, cows, cats and chickens defecate and roam about in the places freely. Although the BSTI several times launched drives against the adulterated vermicelli producers and fined the fake factory owners and workers, but production of adulterated vermicelli continues.BSTI Director General Iqramul Haque said that a very few brands of oil-fried vermicelli got BSTI certification. Mobile courts regularly bust fake factories producing sub-standard vermicelli, but it is not possible for the mobile courts to reach everywhere to check such practice, he said.”It is extremely surprising that unscrupulous businessmen use fake seals and stickers of BSTI and cheat people by supplying low quality vermicelli,” he said. To check the production of the sub-standard vermicelli, first people must be made aware of its harmful effects”, Iqramul Haque said.On the other hand, the Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu at a media briefing recently said the BSTI conducted a total of 1,454 mobile courts and surveillance teams drives till May, 2016 from July, 2015 and during the period nearly Tk 4.73 crore was realised as fine. Besides, 39 enterprises were sealed for adulteration.Aiming to ensure fresh and safe food items during the holy month of Ramadan, BSTI has strengthened its anti-adulteration drive through operating mobile court across the country, Amu added. “BSTI would continue the drive by operating additional mobile courts in Ramadan to keep strong vigilance
