Lack of proper technology makes BSTI useless

QUESTION over food safety still remains a matter of huge public concern as media reports said Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, the lone quality control authority for food, lacks in mechanism to detect harmful agents like antibiotics and pesticides in any processed-food or agro-food item. Besides, BSTI’s safety parameters set almost 17 years ago for testing milk are below the standard level of the developed countries. The BSTI tests milk only against nine parameters when developed nations do that against 23-30 parameters. This ground reality comes forth after some Dhaka University researchers found the presence of harmful antibiotics in pasteurized milk of seven mostly sold brands in the country. The DU research also found some other nine food items manufactured and marketed by some of the top brands in the country do not meet the BSTI standards.
Bangladesh’s Testing and Certification System are still lag behind the time while developed countries examine heavy metals, antibiotics and pesticides in milk and neighbouring India tests milk against 23 quality and chemical parameters and 18 chemical adulterants. It can detect up to 300 pesticides in food items. Singapore can detect 500 pesticides. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics and fertilizers are the major sources of antibiotics and heavy metals in food items. It’s the reality; there is no way to hide it.
It is really pathetic when DU and the Institute of Public Health have found detergent and antibiotics agents in almost all dairy products while BSTI research found them safe. Awarding clean-chit to the companies by BSTI is a crime as BSTI has no enough instruments to detect antibiotics.
It is therefore much imperative for BSTI to update its variable regularly because unscrupulous businesses always tried to take advantage of loopholes. If it is not possible then shut down organization.