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ADULTERATED FOOD

Consumers demand continuous drive

FAIZuL KHAN TANIM
"Food shops called a strike on August 3-4. We will call strike on August 5-6. Don't buy anything on these two days. Please pass this message to at least 10 people to protect us all from food contamination." This SMS (short messaging service) was a part of the campaign initiated by the common people against adulterated food.
About 99 percent city residents from all walks warmly greeted the 'safe foods' drive. The Star City surveyed the reaction of people from different walks of life. Their ideas were that such drives should continue at intervals.
A CNG driven auto rickshaw driver said that at least he could have hygienic food with his hard-earned money, as the
government could not promise jobs and security.
But people like rickshawpullers were unaware of the nature of the drive which may not make a difference to them.
"It is all the same for me. I have to depend on cheap cooking oil and food. And even if bread has a lizard tail inside I have to still consume it," said Kuddus, a rickshaw puller. "The cry for bread of high quality is beyond my reach," he added.
Some students of North South University (NSU) expressed that the drive has brought in positive results. "We are compelled to have food from either the canteen or nearby eateries and end up with bad stomachs," said Ashfaq Ali.
Businessmen from Gulshan and Banani said they were dependent on outside food and this drive has somewhat relieved them. Syed Afsar
Khandaker, a garment liaison office director said that hotel owners would think twice before serving dead chicken and stale food.
Shop owners said they did not want attractive looking food, but they want quality. Ibrahim Khalil and Harun Rashid from Karwan Bazaar were of the opinion that such drives must be continuous. "We have been having adulterated foods for a long time and now I can boldly say NO", said Iman Ali also from the same place.
When asked Shaida Akhter, a housewife from Tejgaon what she thought of the drive, she was happy that such a drive was on. But she also said that prior to the drive, canisters of Chanachur and biscuits were never empty. "Now no one touches them," she said adding that this drive has created awareness among the common
people.
Doctors around the city, too, welcomed the drive and said it should be a continuation process. "The criteria for quality food must be laid down and maintained by all eateries, said Dr. Oniza from Uttara.
Another doctor said that course for food-handling should be introduced and use of gloves should be introduced immediately. "Not only the big restaurants, but the street side shops and eating houses too should be monitored regularly," he added.
Sharmeen Neelia, an executive from an advertisement firm in Gulshan said that it was a good idea, as long the law enforcers did not encourage corruption in the process.
"Magistrates," she said, "should not bypass any particular shop and recognise the
shops that are already maintaining quality."
But a journalist said that he didn't see anything new about the law under which the drive was taking place. "According to 1974 special powers act, capital punishment and lifetime jail were laws against adulterated food. That means, the law existed but was never implemented," he said.
"The problem lies at grassroots levels and emphasis should be given at the production level," he added.
A consumer said adulteration of food is a slow poisoning mechanism and the punishments imposed are not severe. He said that letting the wrong doers off the hook after fines is not a solution to the problem. "More stern measures must be imposed," he said.