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Toxic milk fear mounts as DU sticks to test results

Blames BSTI for confusion over melamine in popular brands; govt sits today for decision; parents in a fix over alternative baby food

Naimul Alam Nobin
With mothers worried and confused about what to feed their babies, the chemistry department of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday reconfirmed that the eight popular brands of powdered milk indeed contain toxic melamine.
'We are confident about the results of our tests detecting melamine in the samples of powdered milk provided by Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution [BSTI].' said Dr Nilufar Nahar, who carried out the tests at the depart-
ment’s laboratory. "The results are hundred percent correct," she said.
The DU chemistry department had submitted the test reports to the BSTI on October 15, saying all the samples of eight brands of powdered milk contain melamine which is harmful for human.
Meanwhile, the BSTI and the government are still confused about what to do regarding the matter and have not yet given any clear message for mothers leaving them in a fix as to what to feed their babies. Many anxious mothers arc now giving their babies pasteurised
liquid milk of different local brands.
Experts said it would be difficult for some mothers to change their babies' food habits as the babies have become used to powdered milk.
Tire finance ministry will hold a meeting today at the Secretariat to take a decision on the matter. It had warned people against consuming powdered milk of these eight popular brands until any decision is taken in this regard.
The BSTI and private laboratory
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Plasma Plus also carried out tests on samples of some of the branded powdered milk and found the toxic element in only Yashili 1.
But confusions arose as the BSTI itself could not rely on any of the laboratory tests.
Plasma Plus in a press release said yesterday that the BSTI provided it will) four coded samples of powdered milk without their brand names for tests to detect melamine, ft claimed that it never gave test reports on any particular brand.
DU chemistry department Chairperson ProfTajmeri SA Islam blamed die BSTI for creating confusions. "There would not have been any confusion if the BS11 had talked with all the laboratories, set a testing method and finally crosschecked the results.' she said.
The BSTI itself is confused about which result to rely on. she added.
The levels of melamine found in these eight imported brands of powdered milk are much higher than the tolerable level, according to the DU chemistry department tests.
BSTI scientists said presence of up to 0.001 mg of melamine per gram milk consumed would be considered safe for children. For adults, this would be 0.0025mg per gram milk.
About doubts over the results of the tests conducted by the DU chemistry department, Dr Tajmeri said. "We do not care if anybody rejects the results or has doubts about them. We are sure that our process, method and testing instruments are hundred percent correct."
She said the manufacturers of these samples of powdered milk use melamine to enhance protein level in their products but melamine is a toxic chemical and cannot be digested after a certain level.
Dr Nahar said, "We took a long time for the tests and we checked and rechecked our results before confirming them. "
At a press conference at the chemistry department auditorium yesterday, she said they used the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method, terming it a high quality method, and the GC-MS machine.
"We would not have disclosed the results without being hundred percent sure as both babies and businessmen who trade powdered milk are equally important." she
said.
Dr Mahabubu) Hasan, nutrition specialist and former deputy director of Dhaka SMshu Hospital, told The Daily Star that melamine cannot pass through the kidneys and long time consumption of melamine can damage the kidneys completely.
"It will be difficult for mothers to change the food habits of their babies who have become used to powdered milk. Even then babies younger than six months should not be given powdered milk. They could be fed with raw milk. Babies older than six months should be given khichuri, eggs, noodles and other soft food items," he said.