Sugar tainted by banned chemical

According to a test report on 16 samples of sugar, both brand and non-brand, by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC), contraband sodium cyclamate has been found in all samples. The tests have been verified by internationally accredited Pacific Lab in Singapore on May 27. "Sodium cyclamate is the cheapest artificial sweetener" and it is popularly known "Ghono Chini" that poses a serious threat to public health. Although authorities cannot say how this substance has found its way in to the market, what we do know is that long-term consumption of sugar tainted by this harmful chemical can upset gut health and instigate tumour formation.

Strangely enough, the import, production or use of sodium cyclamate in every form is banned and a punishable offence in the country. Health experts tell us that the consumption of sugar with this substance in it can also cause obesity. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority states that once it receives the report officially from BARC, its officials will take action. Obviously, a syndicate of importers and business people are involved in the entry of this banned substance into the market and sale to companies that market sugar. 

Chittagong Port authorities tell us that the problem of cracking down on the illegal import has much to do with false declaration. Currently, a bare 10 to 15 percent of imported products are screened and the rest are examined on a random basis. However, we are also told that sugar imports are not supposed to be released without a laboratory test. Since Bangladesh consumes nearly 30 lakh tonnes of sugar annually, the lure of making fast profit at the expense of public health is omnipresent. We can only hope authorities will be going after, not only the importers of sodium cyclamate but also the companies and their accomplices, which may in probability include corrupt officials, without whose help these shipments would not get entry into the country through ports of entry.