Food adulteration and its remedies

Now one of the concerns of civic life is 'adulteration'. Juicy fruits, delicious fish, or fun foods are now the leading causes of death. This is because a class of unscrupulous traders are mixing adulterants in every food item they need to make unlimited profits.

★What is adulteration:

Adulteration is the mixing of harmful chemicals with food, any harmful and unnecessary products including substandard food for malicious purposes. Fish to meat, fruits imported from native fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies and pickles are all adulterated. This adulteration is spread in almost all the food items starting from baby food. For example, urea is used to whiten the color of the cover. Formalin is given to the fish to protect it from decay, and melamine is added to the milk. Color-enhancing chemicals are used in sweets to keep them alive and attractive for a long time. Various chemicals are used to ripen the fruit and prevent rot.

★Current situation of adulteration in Bangladesh:

Carbide and formalin are now being used in this country for rapid ripening and attractive coloring of mangoes, bananas and other fruits. Formalin is also being mixed in dead fish and milk. Harmful DDT is being used in dried fish. Formalin and pesticides are also being given to vegetables. Burnt mobil is being used to make jilapi and chanachur to keep it crispy for a long time. The colors used on fabrics and leather to make it attractive are being used to make ice cream, biscuits, semai, noodles, fruit juices and even sweets. Nowadays salt is also mixed with sand as an adulterant, husk, wood powder, sand or brick powder are mixed with different types of spices. The taste of oranges and malt has changed due to chemicals. Counterfeit, adulterated, toxic drugs are being sold openly. Mustard oil is a kind of chemical used to increase the odor. Tannery waste, skin toxins with horrible toxic chemicals are being used in chicken feed, which has poisoned chicken meat and eggs. At present, different hotels in the country are using jordan dyes and various chemical dyes to make the color of vegetables attractive. Dead chicken is being cooked. Lemon juice is being used in cooking dead chicken to prevent bad breath. Fish ice is being used in sherbet, cold water and lachchi.

★Harmful effects of adulteration:

Food adulteration ingredients cause various harms to the human body. Foods mixed with toxic chemicals pose terrible health risks. Formalin in fish, meat, fruit and milk can cause cancer, asthma and skin diseases. Its harmful effects are fatal for children and pregnant mothers. Consumption of very small amounts of formaldehyde gas is also a cause of bronchitis and pneumonia infections. Formalin is a toxic chemical that can cause immediate death in humans. According to the director of Bangladesh Cancer Hospital, there are many types of cancer in the human body. Most of the reasons are not known. However, toxic chemicals such as formalin have been shown to be effective in spreading cancer. This results in inflammation in the stomach, liver damage, bone marrow freezing. According to the Bangladesh Consumer Rights Society, a consumer rights organization, more than three lakh people in the country are getting cancer every year by consuming adulterated food. About 1.5 lakh people are suffering from diabetes and 2 lakh people are suffering from kidney disease. Carbide can cause severe headaches, dizziness, and delirium. In the long run it can irritate the mood and damage memory. Calcium carbide can cause cancer of the kidneys, liver, skin, bladder and lungs.

★Those involved in adulteration:

From farmers or producers to the upper echelons of the government, everyone is involved in adulteration. The big unscrupulous traders are becoming the owners of crores of rupees by adulterating the products. They are keeping the mouths of various government supervisory authorities closed by bribing them in the upper house.

★Anti-adulteration laws:

There is no shortage of laws in Bangladesh to prevent adulteration. But under the law, no major punishment was given except a small fine and imprisonment for a couple of months. The Pure Food Act provides for life imprisonment to prevent the production of adulterated products. This law was made in 2005. Earlier there was an ordinance of the same name. But since independence, no criminal has been given the maximum punishment under this law. Besides, there are many other laws regarding adulteration and chemical adulteration in food including Rule 180, Pure Food Ordinance 1959, Pure Food Policy 198, Pure Food Act (Amendment) 2005, Mobile Court Ordinance 2009, Poison Act 1919, Consumer Rights Act 2009.

★Chemical importers:

Every year a huge amount of various chemicals including formalin are imported. But the Ministry of Commerce does not have a proper account of where they are sold. These chemicals are sold in the open market. And they are constantly being used in food. But no action is being taken against the importers.

★Remedies for adulteration:

The following measures can be taken to prevent adulteration-

1. Exemplary Punishment: In order to eliminate adulteration in Bangladesh, it is necessary to take exemplary punishment first. Section 25 (c) of the Special Powers Act, 1974 provides for death penalty, life imprisonment and 10 years rigorous imprisonment for adulteration of food. Exemplary punishment needs to be provided using unused laws.

2. Law Enforcement: There are many laws in Bangladesh to prevent adulteration. But there is not much application in the law. If punishment is ensured through law enforcement, it will be possible to prevent adulteration.

3. Monitoring of chemical imports: Adequate monitoring of various types of chemical imports should be arranged in the policy making forum of the government. At the same time, policies need to be formulated and implemented to limit the use of imported chemicals.

4. Consumer movement intensified: Consumer movement in India is much stronger than in Bangladesh. Consumer rights activists came forward when the product was found to be adulterated. Boycott of those products or services is called for. Fruits are available quickly. But such a movement in Bangladesh is just a dream.

5. Mobile court campaigns: Regular mobile court campaigns need to be intensified. It will not work if you give a small fine to the anti-counterfeiters. Strict punishment must be provided against them.

★Introduction of BSTI:

BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution) Authority should ensure the quality of the product and approve it. Moreover, if anyone in the BSTIA authorities is corrupt, he should take action.

*There is more to be done at the government level-

A. To ensure timely and more severe punishment for the existing laws of the country and to ensure its implementation in practice.

B. Strict policies to control the quality of food products.

C. To bring the delivery of food from production to the hands of the consumer under constant inspection.

D. Eliminate coordination between different ministries and agencies.

*What traders should do-

A. Must be vocal against rogue food traders.

B. Unscrupulous businessmen should stop talking as one of the entire business community.

*Things to do at the consumer level-

A. Consumers need to organize and build a social movement against food terrorists.

B. Awareness needs to be raised among consumers.

C. Adulterated food should be boycotted.

Food adulteration is undoubtedly a national problem, a national catastrophe. Remember- "Medicine is not healthcare rather than sick care, Food is healthcare." So there is no substitute for adulterated food to stay healthy. Some unscrupulous businessmen are threatening society in order to protect their personal interests. Adulterated food is pushing the nation towards paralysis. If the country and the nation really want to improve, they have to stand up against rogue traders and ensure adulterated food.