Use of toxic colours in bakery items rampant:Daily Sun

  A section of unscrupulous traders are reportedly using industrial dyes (color additives) in biscuit, pastry and vermicelli, making the commoners vulnerable to serious health hazards, experts said. Sources said the traders are using dye colours in many food items, especially in vermicelli to give the widely-used item a bright colour to attract the consumers ahead Eid. Public health experts have s
ounded a note of caution regarding the use of dyes in cake and vermicelli, saying that people, especially children, may get seriously sick after consuming such chemical-laced food items. Prof Dr Khursheed Jahan, a noted nutritionist and health expert, said such dye colour-treated foods look attractive but contain traces of chemicals, posing serious health risks. ”Some unscrupulous traders use various industrial colour agents to brighten food items, such colours are widely applied on fabrics,” she added. Dr Jahan also said “Vermicelli is a common item during Eid in our Bengali culture and all age groups, including children consume this food item during the Eid festivity. But nowadays, this food item is being adulterated with dyeing colours and other preservatives and artificial flavors during the production process. “Consumption of such adulterated foods might lead to kidney failure and could affect the brain. In the long term, consumption of such food might cause cancer as well,” she went on. Dr Nilufar Sharamin, a pediatrician, said she is worried as most of the cake and vermicelli the children are taking are adulterated with dyes and other chemical substances, which may lead to indigestion, dehydration, diarrhea and other health complications. “Such adulterated food items causes neurological complications in children,” she added. “Research shows that children who consume chemically- treated foods for a long period of time may face early acidity and kidney complications,” she cautioned. Dr Nilufar Sharamin urged the government to take special measure to bring all the bakery and pastry outlets under close monitoring to prevent food adulteration and sales of chemical-laced food items. The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the regulatory body that monitors quality of foods, called for raising awareness against chemically-treated food items. “Drive against dishonest traders is simply a regulatory function. We conduct drives twice a week against such malpractice,” BSTI Director General Iqramul Haque told this correspondent over phone. He also said raising awareness among the consumers and traders would work better. “The media can also help a lot to this end,“ he said. He said the BSTI would keep its close eye on bakery, pastry shops and the manufacturing plant of vermicelli in the capital and elsewhere of the country to prevent food adulteration during the Eid and round the year.