Letters to the editor
Marketing date-barred and health hazarding imported powder milk
Sir,
The Customs department has put on auction 15 containers of powder milk expiry dates of which are nearing at the Chittagong Port. Two organizations under the same ownership in Chittagong have bought the powder milk weighing 375 metric tons for Tk 4,86,00,000. Date of the five containers will be expired after one month, while the date of the remaining containers will be expired after three months.
Since the milk has been lying at the port for two years, question has arisen regarding its standard required for consumption. Question has also arisen whether the milk will be consumed before its date expires as it will go to consumers surpassing at least three steps. Who knows that the same will not be sold even after expiry of dates ? If it is done, public health will be in danger.
It is gathered that Sun Dairy, an organization of Dhaka, imported the powder milk from the USA in 2013. As proper documents relating to the import were not available the Chittagong Customs authority did not release the consignment. Finally, the consignment had to be put on auction. It is very unfortunate to note that a valuable food item like powder milk was caught in the bureaucratic red tape instead of reaching the consumers in the quickest possible time.
What benefit will it do if it does not reach the consumers at the right time ? There is a high demand for imported powder milk in the country. But the quality of the same must be ensured by the importers backed by valid documents. It is expected that in future this kind of dilly-dallying tactics will not occur and the imported food items including powder milk will reach consumers in proper time. Transparency of the importers and the relevant authorities will contribute to easy availability of the same.
Shamim Ahsan Bulbul
Khilgaon, Chowdhurypara, Dhaka
