Members of law
enforcement agencies,
led by magistrates, must launch drives against
such risky iftar foods
Health hazarding iftar foods
That a section of petty traders, with the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, are doing brisk business by selling substandard iftar items exposing the consumers to serious health hazards, is a depressing piece of information. A report on this appeared in a daily newspaper recently. According to the report, most of the iftar items selling at makeshift roadside shops in the capital and other places in the country are injurious to public health as they contain various harmful chemicals. According to the report, dyeing materials are being used in making iftar items and consumption of such toxins along with the foods may cause various diseases even deadly cancer. Hundreds of thousands of people buy such iftar foods all over the country lured by their bright and attractive looks not knowing about their serious health hazarding properties.
It is shocking to note that carbide and ethopene are being used for colouring jilapi, beguni, peaju and alur chop to lure customers. Muri (puffed rice), a much-consumed iftar food, is fried with urea fertilizer to give it shine. Besides, summer fruits like mango, pineapple and papaya are also found not safe in many cases for consumption as they are ripened by using a carcinogenic chemical. Many food vendors and roadside restaurants repeatedly reuse cooking oil for frying various items.
A burgeoning iftar market crops up during the month of Ramzan. People from all walks of life buy iftar items according to their purchasing power. But when unhygienic foods are sold in the name of business it is very worrying and unfortunate. There is a great rush for buying iftar items just before the fasting ends. The dishonest sellers take advantage of it and cheat the buyers. Ramzan is the month of self-purification, penance and abstinence. But for making super normal profits all morals are forgotten by these dishonest food sellers.
But this cannot be allowed to go on. Members of law enforcement agencies, led by magistrates, must launch drives against such risky iftar foods. Besides, there should be strict monitoring of the iftar market. Creation of public awareness against consumption of toxic iftar items is also needed.
