Here is my comments published in the FeedBack column of NewAge dated
Friday 0ctober 31,2008.
Tainted milk and our responsibility
Apart from the melamine scare on powder milk there is also the rumour
that most of the fruits found in different markets are also hazardous
to health because chemicals are injected either to make them big so
that they weigh more and/or they ripen fast. Besides, the nation
hasn't forgotten the contribution of Magistrate Rokonuddowla who had
found many restaurants and other food producing/dealing businesses
violating standards.
The businessmen are thinking in terms of loss of their profits
without thinking about the value of a human life but they are morally
bound by religion and legally obliged by the constitution to provide
goods pure and not poisonous to the health status of the humans. I
wonder what would be the condition of a businessmen if he found that
his imported milk powder containing melamine is the cause of death of
one of his children or that of a close relative of his. Would his
greed for money supersede his human feelings?
Lastly, the politicians of the country who are preparing for the
elections to form the next government and opposition in the
parliament must take note that they are to revamp the BSTI and get
rid of the entire corrupt and useless staff and make at least
four/five more institutions that would be able to monitor the food
standard of all locally-produced and imported food items. Also banks
must be instructed that while receiving the LCs from importers they
must attach with the LCs results of chemical tests and certificates
from both national and foreign parties. The present interim
government, especially the chief adviser, commerce, food and legal
advisers, should sit with all the importers in the country to discuss
the following points:
1. That they will jointly remove all milk powder declared unfit
for human consumption and destroy those in the presence of a
committee that should comprise members of the judiciary, print and
electronic media and any other as suggested by the importers'
association.
2. That the importers' association would provide the government
their undertakings and/or written assurances that they would not
import food items for human consumption without first checking and
comparing the chemical test of all their imported items and that one
of their representatives would remain present in the country of
origin to ensure shipment of those tested food items.
3. That the importers wouldn't wilfully create a `crisis' of other
imported items and/or increase their prices causing hardship to the
consumers.
If those above three points are not followed, we shall see that
all the powder milk that the stores are now `hiding' will soon emerge
at a later date in different packaging and brand names and the people
are yet again buying the same tainted items.
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[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
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