Experts at a discussion meeting here on Sunday raised questions about the authenticity of the reading of the formalin detection digital metres introduced in the country recently.
They also observed that only the test of formalin on food items cannot ensure the food safety, as they can have various other harmful residues of pesticides, growth hormones applied during the cultivation.
The discussion meeting, ‘Toxicity in Food: Role of the Authorities and the Safe Food Law’, was organised by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) at the Jatiya Press Club.
Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) director Mainul Ahsan said, “There are doubts about the digital metres used formalin detection. We don’t know what the detection limit is. This can create a lot of confusions when we consider that many food items can contain natural formaldehyde in them.”
Noting that the formalin kits are now being used to test all kinds of food, including fruit, vegetable, fish and milk, he said the same formalin detection metre cannot be sued to detect formalin in different kinds of food items.
Mainul also observed that measures to prevent the formalin use as preservatives cannot be effectively undertaken unless the authorities set up the limits of formalin presence for specific food items.
Presided over by Poba general secretary Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, the discussion meeting was also addressed by its secretary Abdus Sobhan.
Source: UNBConnect
