The High Court (HC) today directed the authorities concerned to immediately remove from the market 52 food products which are found substandard by Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI).

The court ordered the authorities concerned to stop production, selling or marketing of these substandard products and to take appropriate legal action against the persons responsible for producing, selling, marketing and supplying the products.

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52 ‘Substandard’ Food Items: Come to us and explain

BSTI, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection have been asked to take necessary measures to this effect.

In response to a writ petition filed by Conscious Consumers Society (CCS), the HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al Jalil ordered Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to submit a report before this court in 10 days after complying with the order.

‘WAR AGAINST SUBSTANDARD FOOD’

While passing the order, the HC requested the government and the prime minister to declare a war against the adulteration of food like that of anti-drug drive.

The HC said that the officials concerned of the government should have patriotism and love for the people while discharging their duties so that substandard food products could not be supplied among the masses.

There should not be any compromise and tolerance regarding food safety, the court said.

The drive against adulteration of food should not be limited in the month of Ramadan, rather it should continue throughout the year, it said.

The court also requested the government to ensure that pure drinking water is supplied to people.

CCS filed the writ petition on May 9, seeking necessary order on the government to seize or withdraw the substandard foods from the market from all over the country, as it did not get any reply to a legal notice served on the authorities concerned on May 6.

The court fixed May 23 for passing further order on this issue.

LIST OF THE FOOD PRODUCTS

The 52 substandard food products include Teer Sarishar (Mustard) Tel (Oil) of City Oil Mill (Konapara, Gazipur); GB Sarishar Tel of Green Blessings Vegetables Oil Industries Limited (Rupganj, Narayanganj); Pusti Mustard Oil of Shabnam Vegetables Oil Industries Limited (Rupganj, Narayanganj); Rupchanda Mustard Oil of Bangladesh Edible Oil Limited (Rupganj, Narayanganj); Sun Chips of Kashem Food Products Limited (Konapara, Gazipur); Ara Drinking Water of Arra Food and Beverage Limited (Uttara, Dhaka); Al Safi Drinking Water of Al Safi Drinking Water (Chiriakhana Road, Mirpur, Dhaka); Mizan Drinking Water of Shahari and Brothers (15/3-1, Purba Rampura, Dhaka); Morn Dew Drinking Water of Morn Dew Pure Drinking Water (Section 11, Mirpur, Dhaka); Duncan Natural Mineral Water of Duncan Products Limited (20, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka); RR View Drinking Water of RR View Purified Drinking Water (151/1, Purba Sheorapara, Kafrul, Dhaka); Dighee Drinking Water of Dighee Drinking Water (Topkhana Road, Dhaka); Pran Lachchha Seemai (vermicelli) of Pran Agro Limited (Sapura, Rajshahi); Dudli Noodles of New Zealand Dairy Products BD Limited (Rupganj, Narayanganj); Testy, Tani, Taskia Soft Drink Powder of Shanta Products (Keraniganj, Dhaka); Priya Soft Drink Powder of Jahangir Food Products (Kamrangirchar, Dhaka); Danish Holuder Gura of Danish Food Limited (Kanchpur, Narayanganj); Pran Holuder Gura of Pran Agro Limited (Natore); Fresh Holuder Gura of Tanvir Food Limited (Megnaghat, Sonargaon, Narayanganj); ACI Pure Dhaniar Gura of ACI Food Limited (Sirajganj); Pran Curry Powder of Pran Agro Limited (Natore); Danish Curry Powder of Danish Food Limited (Kanchpur, Narayanganj); Banolata Ghee of Banolata Sweets and Bakery (Mirpur, Dhaka); Pure Hathazari Maricher Gura of SS Consumer Products (Chattogram); Mistimela Lachchha Seemai of Mistimela Food Products (Firingibazar, Chattogram); Madhuban Lachchha Seemai of Madhuban Bread and Biscuits Industries Private Limited (Panchlaish, Chattogram); Mithai Lachchha Seemai of Mithai Sweets and Bakery (Jalalbad, Chattogram); Oil Food Lachchha Seemai of Oil Food and Beverage Company (Aturardepo, Sholoshohor, Chattogram); ACI Aydinjukta Laban of ACI Salt Limited (Rupganj, Narayanganj); Mollah Solt Aydinjukta Laban of Mollah Salt Industries (Char Syedpur, Narayanganj); King Maida of KR Food Industries Limited (Sitakunda, Chattogram); Rupsha Fermented Milk (Dai) of Rupsha Food Products (Eidgah, Chattogram); Makka Chanachur of Tayeba Food Products (Sadar, B-Baria); Mehedi Biscuit of Imtiaz Bread and Food Products (399, Asodganj Chattogram); Baghabari Special Ghee of Baghabari Special Ghee Company (380/B, Dakkhin Goran, Dhaka); Suji of M/S Nishita Foods (BSCIC Shilpanagari, Khadimnagar, Sylhet); Lachchha Seemai of M/S Madhuban and Products (BSCIC Shilpanagari, Gotatikar, Sylhet); Holuder Gura of M/S Manzil Food and Products (BSCIC Shilpanagari, Gotatikar, Sylhet); Madhumoti Aydinjukta Laban of Madhumoti Salt Industries (Phultala, Khulna); Sun Holuder Gura of Sun Food (Kushtia); Greenlane Madhu of Greenlane Milk Product (Daulatpur, Khulna), Kiran Lachchha Seemai of M/S Kiran Products (Naogaon); Dolphin Maricher Gura and Dolphin Holuder Gura of M/S Abbas Ali Mudi Dokan (Saheb Bazar, Rajshahi); Surya Maricher Gura of M/S Rakib Store (Saheb Bazar, Rajshahi); Jedda Lachchha Seemai of M/S Jedda Food Industries (Katpatti, Sadar, Jhalakathi); Amrita Lachchha Seemai of M/S Amrita Food Products (Amritanagar, Pangsha, Babuganj, Barishal); Dada Supar Aydinjukta Laban of M/S New Jhalakathi Salt Mills (Araddarpara, Sadar, Jhalakathi); Tin Teer Aydinjukta Laban of M/S Quality Salt Industries (Fariapatti, Sadar, Jhalakathi); Madina, Star Ship Aydinjukta Laban of M/S Lucky Salt Industries (4, Manoharpatti, Sadar, Jhalakathi); Taj Aydinjukta Laban of M/S Taj Salt Industries (Station Road, Sadar, Jhalakathi) and Nur Special Aydinjukta Laban of M/S Nur Salt Industries (Faniapatti, Sadar, Jhalakathi), according to the writ petition.