Enforce law to curb use of toxic chemicals in foods

Speakers tell seminar

7 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Increased awareness and strict implementation of the law are a must to curb use of toxic chemicals in food items, said speakers at a seminar yesterday. They called on everyone to commence a social movement from individual households, and say no to adulterated food items and other products containing poisonous chemical substances -- and also stressed on the need to find healthier alternatives for such products. The seminar on 'Adverse effect on human health due to the use of toxic colours and chemical substances' was organised jointly by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) at its office in the city. You cannot preach creating awareness about harmful substances in foodstuff and other products and go home with soft drinks containing harmful substances for your children, said Prof Mahabubur Rahman of Bapa. "The change needs to come from you, from your own home," he said. Presenting the keynote paper, Dr Jahedur Rahman of Bapa, said, "Every consumer has the right to safe and toxic-free food, but we are all deprived of the right." All products have chemicals, which cannot be helped, he said, but the problem lies in the process these products are being produced and ensuring the substances used are not bad for the health. "I see people rubbing oily food items on paper and think the food is less oily and therefore less harmful," he said, they think wrong because by doing so they are consuming more chemicals as the toxic substance from the paper get mixed with the oil. Awareness needs to be created regarding these small issues as well, Rahman added. With attractive advertisements, the producers create a false sense of need in the minds of the consumers especially the children, said Zakir Hossain, joint general secretary of Bapa. "They are creating an artificial demand by attracting the young minds. And the parents cannot help but indulge the children with harmful food because of the visible absence of alternatives." The discussants pointed out that conducting mobile courts with magistrates and only fining the defaulters do not help. They demanded capital punishment for the offenders. Permanent solution to the problem lies in a change in the mindset of the general people along with strict implementation of the law, they said. Ataur Rahman Miton of Hunger Free World also spoke.