The fear of formalin contamination, especially in fruits, has apparently hit the top.
Tofail Ahmed, whose ministry is responsible for checking food adulteration, said on Monday that he has stopped buying fruits from the market.
“I do not buy fruits from the market fearing formalin contamination. I eat those which comes in baskets from the orchards,” he said at the ministry after a meeting.
Monday’s meeting at the commerce ministry, participated by business representatives, were meant for reviewing the essential commodities market during the Ramadan.
But formalin-contamination ended up top of the agenda.
Business leaders claimed that the formalin-testing kits itself have flaws.
File Photo
“The machines read positive on formalin, but the same fruit tests negative at laboratories. These machines are not meant for testing formalin contamination in fruits,” said Sirajul Islam, managing director of Sathi Fresh Foods Ltd.
Dhaka MP Haji Md Selim represented the fruit importers at the meeting.
“We know fear to even raise the issue of fruits in view of the hype about formalin,” he said.
Sirajul Islam claimed that chemicals used for ripening mangoes are being imported from China.
He even produced a bottle of that chemical in the meeting.
“Stop importing this at once”
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed immediately instructed his staff to stop the import of that chemical.
He said that the law is being amended and a provision of summary trial is being devised to stop the use of formalin.
“The people of Bangladesh have to be saved from formalin. We are taking measures for stringent punishments against formalin users,” said the commerce minister.
Source: Bd news24
