Samples of 36 food items, which are highly consumed during Ramadan, have failed to meet the standard set by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu has said.
He revealed the information while briefing journalists at his office on Tuesday on the steps taken by the BSTI to ensure the standard of food ahead of Ramadan.
BSTI has collected a total of 286 samples of 24 types of food to ensure unadulterated food and water during the month of fasting.
So far, reports of 175 items have been received, Amu said, adding that samples of 36 food items failed the test while 139 passed. "The other samples are undergoing tests," he added.
BSTI Director (CM) Engineer SM Ishat Ali revealed the name of the products and companies.
Among the 36 samples there are soybean oil packed in drums from companies including Shabnam Vegetable Oil Ltd of Narayanganj, S Alam Super Oil Ltd and S Alam Vegetable Oil in Chattogram, drinking water of Razib Fresh of Razib Enterprise Ltd in Dhaka, Al Hera Enterprise Ltd, A One Food and Beverage, Antara Drinking Water, Nilgiri Drinking Water, and some others collected from various places and restaurants without label.
In the pasteurized milk section, products from Akiz Food and Beverages and Aftab Pasteurized Milk Industries were found to be below standard.
Ghee of Bagura Special Ghee Factory and Danish Food Ltd in Narayanganj were found to be not up to the BSTI standard, he said.
However, Minister Amu claimed that no formalin was found in 430 tested samples of fruits.
A total of six drinking water companies were sealed off while 57 people were sentenced to different terms, and 26,500 illegal and low-quality water jars were destroyed in drives conducted by 19 mobile courts.
Amu said joint drives by the BSTI and the district administration would take place in Dhaka and adjoining areas during Ramadan.
They will specially monitor conditions of food and drinking items as well as puffed rice, banana, ghee, dates, mangoes, soft drink powder, carbonated beverages, fruit syrup, fruit juices, cooking oil, mustard oil, pasteurized milk, noodles, instant noodles, vermicelli, water, and other items of equal importance.