Green activists have demanded the all out implementation of the Safe Food Act 2013 to keep in check human consumption of harmful chemicals, including formalin, in the food items.
The call came from a press briefing organised by Poribesh Banchao Andolon (Poba) at its office, where the activists said the government should bring the culprits, who mix harmful chemicals in foods, to book to make an example to others.
“The government has to implement the Safe Food Act 2013, which prohibits any kind of adulteration in food items, to stop the ongoing food contamination,” said Md Abdus Sobhan, executive general secretary of Poba.
The general secretary opined that stricter punishment should be added to the present law to discourage the unscrupulous chemical mixers.
At the conference, the Poba placed a self-conducted formalin test result of 108 food items that were collected from September 7-23 this year, stating that most of the items contained excessive degree of formalin.
Terming the current food adulteration culture in the country a “Silent Mass Killing”, Poba Chairman Abu Naser Khan said the process of food adulteration has started from the production level to the retailers.
Echoing Naser, Abdus Sobhan said some unscrupulous businessmen have been adulterating most of the food items with different types of chemical in the name of preservation. To check for adulteration, the government should follow the international agreement and protocols on food safety, he also stated.
The Green organisation also suggested the government import only the necessary amount of formalin by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to keep in check the massive use of the chemical in food items.
It also urged that a time-worthy pesticide control act should be formed to control the proper use of fertilizers and pesticides.
