The High Court has ordered lab testing of raw cow milk, curd and fodder from the market in purview of rampant adulteration of food in the country.

It has ordered Bangladesh Standards Testing Institute (BSTI) and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) to report on the lab test by June 23.

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HC worried over milk adulteration

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justic KM Hafizul Alam passed the order during hearing a suomoto rule issued by this court on February 11.

Earlier on May 15, the High court had directed the BSTI and BFSA to submit report detailing the names and relevant particular of the companies and persons responsible for adulteration of raw milk, curd and fodder and the steps taken against them by June 23.

During today’s hearing, Professor Shahnila Ferdousi, head of national food safety laboratory, appeared before the bench along with the study report.

She told the court that the test report, prepared by her ogarnisation, is accurate as they tested the sample on international standard and published the report after the results were published by some international organisations.

She also said, National Food safety laboratory tested the samples of food in order to build awareness among the people. She also described the system of testing the food and publishing the report.

The HC asked Professor Shahnila to place her statement through swearing and affidavit before this court in a month.

The High Court on May 14 issued a serious warning saying that the companies and individuals responsible for adulterating milk and curd, whoever they were, would not be spared and they must be punished.

None will be allowed to play ducks and drakes with people’s lives and health, as safe food is a fundamental right of people, the court said, asking, “How will the nation be built if health of its future generation is not sound?”

Making the observation, the HC sought reports detailing the names and relevant particulars of companies and persons responsible for adulterating raw cow milk, curd and fodder and the steps taken against them.

The NFSL, in their study report, said it found the presence of excessive levels of lead and pesticides in raw cow milk, regular consumption of which may pose threats to human health.

The study also found a high level of chromium in fodder and excessive presence of pesticides, antibiotics and bacteria in raw cow milk.