None to check quality of fast food

Agencies pass the buck on tests

There is no designated government body to conduct checks to detect the presence of harmful elements in fast food, an investigation by The Independent has revealed.
Following the findings of harmful pathogens, salmonella and E. Coli bacteria in fried chicken of the well-known fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), by an authority in neighbouring India, The Independent tried to find out whether any government agency here could conduct such tests on food from any fast food outlet to detect harmful content.
None of the government authorities, however, assumed the responsibility of conducting such tests, even though as many as 15 different agencies under different ministries are tasked to check contamination of food items.
It may be mentioned, on June 22, a mobile court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) realised Tk. 1 lakh each in fines from three branches of popular eateries KFC, Pizza Hut and Boomers on Baily Road.
The mobile court, headed by executive magistrate Md Moshiur Rahman, fined KFC on charges of selling goods that were past their expiry dates and using adulterated oil in different food items, while Pizza Hutt was fined for using two chemicals—bolognaise sauce seasoning and extreme seasoning—which have no BSTI approval and licence.

The Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institutions (BSTI) said products such as fast foods, which are readily consumable, are not under its purview. Kamal Prashad Das, director (certified marks) of BSTI, said, “If you look at the incident where KFC and other fast food  shops were fined, you will see that they were fined for using goods past their expiry dates and adulterated oil, which are all under the purview of BSTI. From BSTI, a mobile court can do that. But testing harmful pathogens in fried chicken cannot be done by BSTI because we do not provide certification to KFC. Hence, we can’t test its products on our own.”
When asked who the designated authority to conduct such testing was, Das said the Consumer Rights Protection Council could conduct such tests on its own.
Abul Hossain Mia, director of the Consumer Rights Protection Council, however, told The Independent that it could test a product only if a consumer makes a written complaint against the product. “We have no laboratories of our own, but when a consumer files a complaint, we can engage a third party to conduct tests.”
He did say that it would look into the matter, adding that the Food Safety Authority (FSA) could do something
about it.
But Prof. Dr Abul Malek, member of the FSA under the ministry of food, said it was a newly formed body and has not fixed its organogram yet. “We are mainly a coordinating body. We can order certain agencies to conduct the testing for us.”
He said the Safe Food Act (Nirapad Khaddyo Ain), 2013, provided for the formation of the FSA, which would work in coordination with different ministries to address all issues and complaints related to adulteration and hygiene.
“There are more than 15 ministries and their agencies are tasked with enforcing more than a dozen laws to check contamination and adulteration of food. We are trying to bring all those under the umbrella of the FSA,” disclosed Dr Malek. He, however, clarified that the FSA itself cannot test any product on its own.
The Times of India reported on Friday that five samples from five outlets of KFC have been found to contain harmful pathogens, salmonella and E. Coli bacteria.
The Telangana State Food Laboratory (SFL), which conducted the tests on the request of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Balala Hakula Sangham, called the samples “unsafe”, even as KFC rejected the findings and denied any knowledge of the samples being collected in the first place.
Talking to The Independent, Akku Chowdhury, chief executive officer (CEO) of Transcom Foods, which has brought renowned brands  such as KFC and Pizza Hut to Bangladesh, said the foods that KFC provides in Bangladesh are always tested and standardized by an independent body. “They are completely safe to consume,” said Chowdhury.
The CEO of Transcom Food said KFC’s foods are independently tested and certified by the UK-based certification agency Intertek. “We have engaged a world-renowned independent agency to ensure our quality. That indicates that we don’t compromise on our quality.”
The Independent talked to magistrate Rokon Ud-Doula, who had achieved fame a few years ago for conducting several courts. From 2006 to 2009, he conducted several food courts, and fined fast food shops, including those of renowned chains like KFC.
Rokon Ud-Doula said that under a government circular issued under the Pure Food Act (amendment) of 2005, he and other designated magistrates used to conduct the food courts. “Aside from fining some of the fast food shops, we could have asked for further testing of some of their products.”
He said the Safe Food Act (Nirapad Khaddyo Ain), 2013, now includes ‘Mobile Court Act, 2009,’ so as to have mobile courts under the Safe Food Act. “So now, as per the Act, the FSA can ask mobile courts to check food adulteration, including that of fast food,” he said.
Prof. Iqbal Rouf Mamun, another member of the five-member FSA, told The Independent that the new Act is still not being implemented. The FSA has been formed in accordance with the Safe Food Act (Nirapad Khaddyo Ain) to work in coordination with different ministries to address all issues and complaints relating to adulteration and hygiene.
“The Act was passed just four months ago. We are a new body. All sorts of mobile courts to check food adulteration are currently being conducted under the old Acts. This is because implementing mobile courts under the new Act will take time,” he said, adding that in India, it took six years to establish the food safety authority.

None to check quality of fast food

Agencies pass the buck on tests

There is no designated government body to conduct checks to detect the presence of harmful elements in fast food, an investigation by The Independent has revealed. Following the findings of harmful pathogens, salmonella and E. Coli bacteria in fried chicken of the well-known fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), by an authority in neighbouring India, The Independent tried to find out whether any government agency here could conduct such tests on food from any fast food outlet to detect harmful content. None of the government authorities, however, assumed the responsibility of conducting such tests, even though as many as 15 different agencies under different ministries are tasked to check contamination of food items. It may be mentioned, on June 22, a mobile court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) realised Tk. 1 lakh each in fines from three branches of popular eateries KFC, Pizza Hut and Boomers on Baily Road. The mobile court, headed by executive magistrate Md Moshiur Rahman, fined KFC on charges of selling goods that were past their expiry dates and using adulterated oil in different food items, while Pizza Hutt was fined for using two chemicalsbolognaise sauce seasoning and extreme seasoningwhich have no BSTI approval and licence. The Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institutions (BSTI) said products such as fast foods, which are readily consumable, are not under its purview. Kamal Prashad Das, director (certified marks) of BSTI, said, If you look at the incident where KFC and other fast food shops were fined, you will see that they were fined for using goods past their expiry dates and adulterated oil, which are all under the purview of BSTI. From BSTI, a mobile court can do that. But testing harmful pathogens in fried chicken cannot be done by BSTI because we do not provide certification to KFC. Hence, we cant test its products on our own. When asked who the designated authority to conduct such testing was, Das said the Consumer Rights Protection Council could conduct such tests on its own. Abul Hossain Mia, director of the Consumer Rights Protection Council, however, told The Independent that it could test a product only if a consumer makes a written complaint against the product. We have no laboratories of our own, but when a consumer files a complaint, we can engage a third party to conduct tests. He did say that it would look into the matter, adding that the Food Safety Authority (FSA) could do something about it. But Prof. Dr Abul Malek, member of the FSA under the ministry of food, said it was a newly formed body and has not fixed its organogram yet. We are mainly a coordinating body. We can order certain agencies to conduct the testing for us. He said the Safe Food Act (Nirapad Khaddyo Ain), 2013, provided for the formation of the FSA, which would work in coordination with different ministries to address all issues and complaints related to adulteration and hygiene. There are more than 15 ministries and their agencies are tasked with enforcing more than a dozen laws to check contamination and adulteration of food. We are trying to bring all those under the umbrella of the FSA, disclosed Dr Malek. He, however, clarified that the FSA itself cannot test any product on its own. The Times of India reported on Friday that five samples from five outlets of KFC have been found to contain harmful pathogens, salmonella and E. Coli bacteria. The Telangana State Food Laboratory (SFL), which conducted the tests on the request of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Balala Hakula Sangham, called the samples unsafe, even as KFC rejected the findings and denied any knowledge of the samples being collected in the first place. Talking to The Independent, Akku Chowdhury, chief executive officer (CEO) of Transcom Foods, which has brought renowned brands such as KFC and Pizza Hut to Bangladesh, said the foods that KFC provides in Bangladesh are always tested and standardized by an independent body. They are completely safe to consume, said Chowdhury. The CEO of Transcom Food said KFCs foods are independently tested and certified by the UK-based certification agency Intertek. We have engaged a world-renowned independent agency to ensure our quality. That indicates that we dont compromise on our quality. The Independent talked to magistrate Rokon Ud-Doula, who had achieved fame a few years ago for conducting several courts. From 2006 to 2009, he conducted several food courts, and fined fast food shops, including those of renowned chains like KFC. Rokon Ud-Doula said that under a government circular issued under the Pure Food Act (amendment) of 2005, he and other designated magistrates used to conduct the food courts. Aside from fining some of the fast food shops, we could have asked for further testing of some of their products. He said the Safe Food Act (Nirapad Khaddyo Ain), 2013, now includes Mobile Court Act, 2009, so as to have mobile courts under the Safe Food Act. So now, as per the Act, the FSA can ask mobile courts to check food adulteration, including that of fast food, he said. Prof. Iqbal Rouf Mamun, another member of the five-member FSA, told The Independent that the new Act is still not being implemented. The FSA has been formed in accordance with the Safe Food Act (Nirapad Khaddyo Ain) to work in coordination with different ministries to address all issues and complaints relating to adulteration and hygiene. The Act was passed just four months ago. We are a new body. All sorts of mobile courts to check food adulteration are currently being conducted under the old Acts. This is because implementing mobile courts under the new Act will take time, he said, adding that in India, it took six years to establish the food safety authority.