Frequents drives by directorate of national consumer rights protection (DNCRP) could not refrain the traders in mixing other materials during crushing turmeric in local crushing factories in Jhenaidah. The evil trend has thrown the life of the people of the district in health risk.
The experts said the toxic neuro, napro and hepato toxic l chemicals are risking the lives of the people as these were found in the turmeric powder in the town.
Traders have been mixing rice dust with the turmeric and adding hazardous colour to attract the consumers. But the harmful colour in turmeric or other spices might cause intestinal complications and cancer in the stomach al last, opined the specialists.
Renowned child specialist, ex principal of Magura medical college Professor Dr. Aloke Kumar Saha when contacted said usually the turmeric crushers use neuro toxic, napro toxic and hepato toxic chemical colours. Neuro toxic is liable for nervous system disorder, napro toxic affects to kidney and hepatic toxic liable for damaging the liver. Continuous use of this sort of hazardous chemicals makes the life risky, Professor Dr. Aloke Kumar Saha said.
Assistant director (AD) of DNCRP in Jhenaidah Suchandan Mandal said they have been conducting drives through mobile courts at different places in the district to make the evil attempts of adulterated food items including turmeric powder.
He said as per the guidelines of deputy commissioner (DC) in Jhenaidah Mozibor Rahman, they conducted drives at Alauddin hallod mills (turmeric crushing factory) at Kathalbagan area of Kaliganj upazila acting on a tip off when the factory authorities were crushing rice with turmeric. They were adding dying (non-food grade) colour to give the turmeric powder attracting and accurate colour.
Some of the day labourers were also detained while they were mixing sunned rice and dying colour with turmeric then. They confessed that they were carrying out the order of crushing mills owner Sonia Khatun. DNCRP team had sealed off the mills as the owner could not be found there anyway.
Later the mills owner was fined for Taka 50 thousand for her alleged involvement in mixing banned items and chemicals with food items under consumer rights preservation act of 2009 on Tuesday.
The mills owner had signed on the promise letter that she would not do so in near future that goes against the ethics and health.
Sample collector of safe food authority Razib Hossain had assisted the team, while the policemen of Kaliganj police station stood for the protection of the mobile team, Suchandan Mandal said.
