Unsafe levels of pesticides are present in around half of the vegetables and more than a quartar of fruits sold in the capital's markets, a recent survey has found. A 15-member team of the National Food Safety Laboratory, with support from the food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), came up with the findings after collecting and testing food samples from the capital's Gulsan,Karwanbazar and Mohakhali markets.
The survey report, a copy of which was acquired by the Dhaka Tribune , read that nearly 40% of 82% samples of milk, milk products, fish, fruitsand vegetables contained banned pesticides such as DDT, Aldrin, Chlordane and Heptachlor. The amouts pesticides in these samples were found to be 3 to 20 times greater than the limits set by the European Union.Around 50% vegetables and 35% fruits were found to be contaminated with unsafe level of pesticides.
Adulterated food products are reportedly the cause behind thousands of people suffering from fatal diseases like cancer, kidney failure and heart problems. Health specialists told the Dhaka Tribune that the Ministry of Food had enacted a food safety Act, but was yet to prepare the necessary rules.As the issue of food safety was also linked to 14 other ministries , a coordinated agency should take responsibility of ensurig safety in food products, they added.