The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday called the government to bring all powder milk products for laboratory test to protect babies and others from serious health hazards like kidney failure and cancer.

The Ittefaq Group of Publications organised the roundtable on 'Melamine Effects of Milk Products' at the National Press Club.

The discussants said besides powder milk, other foods like candy, bakery food, vermicelli should also be tested if they also contain toxic of melamine.

They also demanded for setting up of an international level laboratory manned by competent experts to test all food items before marketing.

Prof Nilufar Nahar of Dhaka University, Abul Kashem, Fatema Parveen Choudhury, Prof Moazzem Hossain, Borhan Ahmed, among others took part in the roundtable presided by Ittefaq editor Rahat Khan.

Rahat Khan said that the government should intensify the anti adulteration drive of food items because of the future of the next generation was at stake

He criticised the government for its inaction in testing the melamine content of powdered milk in markets, he said, that the concerned authorities should play more effective role in this regard.

Prof Nilufar who has involved on testing melamine on the eight powder milk products at DU Laboratories, said a competent laboratory should be set up to identify adulterated food items. Lives of the youngsters are at stake as mothers are feeding their babies contaminated powder milk as alternative to breast milk. "But powder milk cannot be an alternative to breast milk," she asserted.

About eight brands of imported powder milk tested in the Dhaka University Laboratory under her supervision Prof Nahar lamented that government did not pay heed to the test results.

"It is clear to us that the government is unable to impose ban on the tainted powder milk although we found toxic melamine in eight brands of powder milk", she said.

Fatema Parveen said some 46 brands of powder milk on sale in the market should submit certificate of laboratory test report by November 30.

Prof AQM Talukder said that a total of 245 babies died due to malnutrition in the country.

"We cannot find out how many babies died due to consumption of contaminated powder milk in the country," he said.

FBCCI First Vice-President Abul Kashem pointed out adulterat in food is a major concern in the country and said that the government should establish laboratory for testing food items.

Executive Editor of the Daily Janakanta Borhan Ahmed alleged, that the influential group tried to stop the melamine report on powder milk.

Prof Moazzem Hossian said that some dishonest businessmen have released the adulterated powder milk for making additional profit.

Fatema Pervin Chowdhury of Health Nutrition Department said that the government has taken measures after the publishing of the DU test on of powder milk with melamine.

Executive Editor of the Ittefaq Syed Tosharraf Ali said that the multinational companies took opportunity to release adulterated foods in our market following the lack of vigilance of the government.

Breast Feeding Foundation Chairman Dr SK Roy, Ittefaq News Editor Rashid Un Nabi, Dr Abdur Nur Tusar, Nutrition Specialist SM Shampa, among others, addressed the roundtable.