Food Adulteration

(1)

Adulteration of foods has become a national issue. The problem is not only ignoring the human rights for safer food but also endangering public health seriously with numerous acute and chronic diseases. Adulteration of food with toxic chemicals harmful to health has reached an epidemic proportion in Bangladesh. The newspapers have dubbed it as the ‘silent killer’. From raw vegetable and fruits to milk and milk products to fish, meat and processed food–every food item is contaminated. Carbide, formalin, heavy metal, chemical, textile colours, artificial sweeteners, DDT, urea etc. are used rampantly for this purpose. Contamination of foods with toxic chemicals pose a serious threat to public health, especially in a country like Bangladesh where due to poor health literacy, level of awareness is very low. Immediate effect of ingestion of such foods may be severe forms of diarrhoea (food poisoning), threatening life. In the long run, these chemicals in food adversely affect vital organs such as the liver and kidney resulting in organ failure and/or cancer and thus, untimely loss of life. There is no database in the country for these, but the recent surge in liver and kidney failure patients in the hospitals is indicative of the deteriorating situation. In a recent study, it has been found that though people are aware about the health hazards, they are nevertheless buying and consuming these adulterated foods. However, the problem lies in its sustained and appropriate implementation by credible authority. Occasionally, the regulatory authorities will be suddenly in an active mode, and conduct mobile courts to penalize sellers for selling contaminated foods. If we cannot remove food adulteration, Bangladesh will get more impaired people near future.

(2)

Man cannot live without food. It is essential for health and life. But this food must be pure, clean and fresh. Nowadays, foods are often adulterated. In hotels and restaurants stale and rotten foods are mixed with fresh food and served to the customers. Fish and vegetables are adulterated by putting on them chemicals and other preservatives in order to make them look fresh. Bakery and confectionery products are also adulterated by using toxic substances. Junk food contains harmful chemicals. Even fruits, milk and beverages are also adulterated . In fact, all kinds of foods and food articles are adulterated by dishonest and greedy businessmen for a quick and unearned profit. Adulterated foods are a serious health hazard. They cause many fatal diseases and even death. Food adulteration has become an alarming problem in our country. Dealing in adulterated food is a great crime. The criminals have to be identified and punished. We must remember that if we fail to solve it at once, this problem may go out of control in near future. However, though our government has taken some steps to remove food adulteration, but these are not sufficient at all. In the end, it is not possible for the government to solve food adulteration problem in single hand. Public awareness should be created so that people can become careful about buying foods and food articles.

(3)

Food adulteration means making food or drink less pure by adding or mixing another substance to it. Nowadays, foods are often adulterated. In hotels and restaurants, stale and rotten foods are mixed with fresh food and served to the customers. Fish, and vegetables are adulterated by putting on them chemicals and other preservatives in order to make them look fresh. Bakery and confectionery products are also prepared by using toxic substances and thus they get adulterated. Junk food contains harmful chemicals. Even fruits, milk and beverages are also adulterated. In fact, all kinds of foods and food articles are adulterated by dishonest and greedy businessmen and shop keepers for quick and unearned profit. Actually, the range of adulteration activities is many. The persons who adulterate foods are cruel and devoid of conscience. They don’t think how much harm they are doing to the consumers. They adulterate food without the least hesitation or torment of conscience. So, they use formaline in fish and fish products to preserve for long period of time, use urea in fried rice to make it more white and large. add olemargrain or lard to butler and ghee. They also use artificial colorants in juices and drinks. These are reality in the field of food-adulteration. Adulterated foods are a serious health hazard. They cause many fatal diseases and even death. By eating or drinking these food items. people are to succumb to untimely death. Because these foods causes problem of heart, liver, kidney, bone etc. Public awareness should be created so that they become careful about buying foods and food articles. Besides, the criminals have to be identified and punished. The relevant departments of the government should remain ever vigilant against food adulteration and gear up their activities. They must strictly monitor the market regularly and must give exemplary punishment to the criminals so as to prevent this notorious social crimes.