The DNC (Department of Narcotics Control) says 42 types of harmful energy drinks which are available in markets across the country contain alcoholic and sex-stimulating ingredients exposing consumers to serious health risks.
The report on the test results with detailed information about the quantity of harmful elements in the energy drinks, a copy of which obtained by UNB, was submitted to the Senior Secretary to the Home Ministry on June 6 last.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to prepare the report during her visit to the Home Ministry on April 13, 2014.
Following the submission of the report, a meeting was held at the ministry on August 14 with the officials concerned.
Chaired by Home Ministry joint secretary Sheikh Abdul Ahad, the meeting asked the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration to submit a report with proposals of possible steps against the energy drinks companies responsible for marketing the harmful drinks.
Contacted, Sheikh Abdul Ahad told the UNB correspondent that they asked the BSTI and the Drug Administration to submit their reports to be sure about the presence of harmful elements in the 42 kinds of energy drinks as they were being marketed using the seals of the two government organisations.
The two organisations will submit their reports soon, Abdul Ahad said adding they will hold a meeting to take immediate steps to stop production of the energy drinks laced with harmful ingredients once the reports are submitted.
According to the DNC’s report, 31 out of 42 tested energy drinks contain excessive amount of caffeine (stimulant) while 21 other ones have sex stimulant Sildenafil Cytrate and eight others alcoholic elements.
DNC Director (Admin) Pranab Kumer Niogi said 145 miligrams caffeine use in energy drinks is permissible but these samples of energy drinks contain excessive caffeine which is harmful to health.
The energy drinks found to be containing alcoholic elements are BARBICAN, BAVARIA, ROYAL DUTCH, THREE HORSE, OETTINGER, HOLSTEN and Wild Brew.
The energy drinks laced with excessive amount of caffeine are REDBULL, SINGA, Double Horse, Zinasin Plus, POWER HORSE, STRONG-500, MUSHROOM, ZINSIN POWER, TRIP-ON, FU-WANG, HORSE FEELINGS, Zinter, Tonu Lion Fruit Syrup, GINSIN, Strong-500, Sting, AP Fiz, ROYAL TIGER, Black Horse, ZINSIN, Jahan Mushroom Gold, 7 Horse Feelings, Zinter Plus ZINSIN, Ruchita Feelings, Doubel Horse and Fast Kings.
Besides, energy drinks containing sex stimulant Sildenafil Cytrate are Double Horse, ZINSIN Plus, MUSHROOM, Zinter, Tonu Lion Fruit Syrup, ZINSIN, Jahan Mushroom Gold, 7 Horse Feelings, ZINTER Plus, Ruchita Feelings, 7x Power Feelings and Fast Kings.
Consumption of energy drinks containing excessive quantity of caffeine poses serious health hazards while that of Sildenafil Cytrate exposes teenagers and children to serious health risks.
Of the 42 energy drinks, 27 claimed to have been certified and approved either by Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) or Nutrition and Food Science Institute under Dhaka University.
Contacted, the authorities of BCSIR and DU’s institute refused to give approvals to the energy drinks.
Asked whether the BSTI has given any approval to the energy drinks, its director general Iqramul Haque said, “No energy drinks were given approval from BSTI till now. Legal action will be taken against those energy drinks companies using BSTI logos.”
Besides, during investigation, DNC found certificates of the 27 energy-drink making companies ‘fake’ and recommended action against them.
It also recommended banning and filing of cases against the imported energy drinks-BARBICAN, BAVARIN, ROYAL DUTCH, 3-HORSES, OETTINGER, HOLSTEN, WILD BREW.
The DNC also recommended declaring itself as the appropriate authority for giving approval for the use of caffeine in energy drinks, banning the use of Sildenafil Cytrate except medical purpose and conducting mobile courts to bust unauthorised energy-drink making factories and action against the unscrupulous traders involved in dealing with those drinks.
Source: UNB.com.bd
