Harmful sodium compound found in molasses

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has found the presence of harmful sodium hydrosulphite or dithionite in the palm and sugarcane molasses produced in the country.

Molasses producers in several parts of the country are using this harmful and banned chemical for more profit, according to BFSA.

A BFSA official said they collected 47 samples from different districts through their field officers from March to June this year.

After a laboratory test, it was found that sodium dithionite was present in 20 samples.

Sodium dithionite paper is used in colouring mills, textile mills, and finished fabrics. In most areas, molasses manufacturers use hydrose while boiling the juice to get the desired colour.

This chemical can cause cancer, dysentery, intestinal inflammation and other gastrointestinal problems in addition to reduced efficacy of insulin, increasing risks of diabetes.

According to BFSA, sodium dithionite is imported from India to Bangladesh in various ways and supplied to the Bangladesh market.

The agency has instructed the manufacturers to immediately stop using this chemical in molasses. Besides, it has also issued instructions not to transport and sell the chemical in the market.

Golam Rabbani, a molasses seller in Karwan Bazar, said sellers like him buy molasses from different districts outside Dhaka at a wholesale price and no chemicals are added to molasses.

However, he said they cannot test whether any chemicals have been mixed in the molasses after buying it.

A BFSA official said district commissioners and UNOs of the areas famous for making molasses have been contacted in this regard.

"They have been instructed to warn the molasses growers," said the official, requesting anonymity.

Several areas of the country, including Jashore, Kushtia, Satkhira, Faridpur and Natore, are famous for the production of molasses.

Traders said the size of the market for palm molasses in the country is about Tk 350 crore.

Syed Zakir Hasan, UNO of Bagherpara Upazila in Jashore, said those who are involved in molasses production in Bagharpara have been informed about the matter.

They have also instructed molasses producers that no chemicals should be added to the production, he said.

Monzur Morshed Ahmed, member (public health and nutrition) of BFSA, said the growers have been warned against using the chemicals. Legal action will be taken if they fail to comply with the instructions.

According to the law, molasses producers can be fined a maximum of Tk 13 lakh and two years in jail if they fail to comply with it.