Kitchen markets declared “formalin-free” in the capital have become a classic case of apathy as adulterated food continue to sneak its way in thanks to slack monitoring by the market committees.
Incoming kitchen goods such as fish, fruits and vegetables are seldom examined. In most of the markets, inspection teams have zeroed in on incoming fish produce only, ignoring other items subject to adulteration.
Though there is an obligation for these markets to test formalin limits of food every day, they do not do so and some do it only 2-4 times a month.
This lack of regulation, however, has ignited food scares among many people visiting the markets for their daily kitchen purchases.
During a recent visit to the Mohammadpur Townhall City Corporation Kitchen Market, a fish seller, on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent that members of the market’s inspection team rarely come to check formalin limits of food.
“They (market committee members) test only fishes and that too once or twice a month. My shop was last visited nearly a month and a half ago,” he added.
Asked if he processes fish, another fish seller of the market said: “Why would I? Look, all my fishes are fresh and covered in ice. I don’t need to do that. The market committee comes to check our fishes at the start or end of every week.”
He, however, said there are many traders in the market who do mix formalin with kitchen goods and sell them to unsuspecting shoppers.
Md Samsul Haque Dewan, secretary of the market’s traders’ association, admitted they do not test the formalin limits of anything other than fish.
“We try to do inspection on a daily basis, but sometimes cannot because of time constraints.”
The same condition prevails in the capital’s Shantinagar Kitchen Market also, where formalin-tests are not run regularly, though some traders and market committee members claimed otherwise.
Md Iman Hossain Kanon, secretary of Shantinagar Market Traders’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune, “We regularly check if formalin was applied in fish, fruit or vegetables. A team visits the market every day.”
“No formalin-treated goods are allowed or sold in the market,” he claimed.
However, some traders and shoppers claimed the market’s inspection team makes fewer visits than were said and doesn’t check all goods either.
Bismillah Miah, a vegetable seller, said, “Sometimes they come to test the formalin status of fish, but nothing else. Of vegetables, they examined only tomatoes when the formalin-test drives started, but then stopped coming.”
Shawpan Ukil, another vegetable seller sitting beside him, nodded in agreement.
The Malibagh market, on the other hand, is apparently the most organised of all, making regular drives before fishes are unloaded and registering names of respective suppliers and traders.
But there are allegations that the same focus is not given on fruits and vegetables.
The market committee secretary Shamim Bhuian, however, rejected the claims and said drives are made every morning irrespective of the nature of the goods supplied.
Since 2012, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the largest traders’ association in the country, declared 16 kitchen markets formalin-free and provided them with Formalin Dehydration Machines.
FBCCI Vice-president Md Helal Uddin said: “We are trying to stop food adulteration in the capital and inspiring market committees to improve their vigilance using the testing machines. But we cannot make it legally binding for them or prohibit the use of formalin. This is where we need a strict government intervention.”
“The government should be strict about the import and unregulated use of formalin. More than 90% of people in Dhaka are going to pavement shops and open-air markets for their daily essentials. If we cannot ensure untainted food for them, they will remain in constant health risks,” he added.