Lead found in 11 BSTI-approved pasteurized milk brands

Food safety authorities of Bangladesh have found harmful traces of lead in 11 leading pasteurized milk brands out of total 14 companies.

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) filed a report to country's higher court mentioning the astounding health hazard element in 11 leading milk brands marketed with the approval by Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).

The facilitating agency further said it has also found presence of cadmium, another hazardous substance, in the samples of raw milk being sold in market.

The 11 companies are Milk Vita, Dairy Fresh, Igloo, Farm Fresh, Aftab Milk, Ultra Milk, Arong Dairy, Pran Milk, Ayran, Pura and Safe Milk, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency report said.

BFSA lawyer Faridul Islam submitted the report before a High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam.

In an instant response to the deadly report, the court banned selling or applying any cattle antibiotic without prescription of a veterinarian.

The High Court then ordered BFSA to submit a report by July 28 on action taken against adulteration of milk, curd and cattle feed.

The High Court also issued a rule asking BSTI registered milk and curd producing companies to explain as to why they shall not be directed to raise a fund to conduct laboratory test and research on its products.

Earlier on June 23, the High Court gave two weeks’ time to BSTI to submit the particulars of companies and firms producing and supplying milk and curd, with or without licenses in Dhaka, and also the names of those doing business with valid licenses.

Earlier, the High Court ordered the testing of raw cow milk, curd, and fodder in the market, following rampant milk adulteration in Bangladesh.

On May 21, Prof Shahnila Ferdousi, chief of National Food Safety Laboratory (NFSL), appeared in court and handed in only a report listing the companies or persons responsible for producing adulterated milk and milk products.

In NFSL's report, the names of 30 curd-producing companies, 30 fodder suppliers, 31 packet milk and 96 raw cow milk producers, and several persons, were mentioned with respect to products containing toxic materials.

On the same day, the High Court ordered the BSTI and the BFSA, to submit lab reports by June 23. The court issued the order at the hearing of a suo moto ruling issued on February 11.

Earlier on May 15, the court ordered BSTI and BFSA to submit their report on May 21, when they failed to submit it within 15 days of the suo moto ruling of February 11.

Kamruzzaman