







































 
 
  
 

30 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

Agriculture and Food Sciences Research 
Vol. 6, No. 1, 30-40, 2019 

ISSN(E) 2411-6653/ ISSN(P) 2518-0193 
DOI: 10.20448/journal.512.2019.61.30.40 

© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

    
 

 
 
 
The Mysterious Domination of Food/Drinking Water Contaminants and 
Adulterants in Bangladesh 

 
A. K. Mohiuddin   

 

 

 
Department of Pharmacy, World University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

 

 
Abstract 

Food adulteration and contamination is nothing new in this age. It is the consequence of modern 
civilization, people moving from places with altered social value and ethics, industrialization and 
rapid progression of economic activities. It is highly prominent in urban areas of many developed 
or underdeveloped countries and so is with in Dhaka city. Commercialism and business mind drive 
people toward such unethical activities knowingly or unknowingly. Most of the cases it is done by 
uneducated or illiterate people, having least idea about what evil they are doing to mankind. 
People who are health conscious mostly avoid these but many of them have to go with this 
because of the busy life schedule or carelessness. By definition, safe food or drink means pollutants 
or adulterants presence within the limit of the standard such as pathogenic micro-organisms, 
natural toxins and potentially harmful chemicals that may cause health hazards beyond a certain 
limit, either deliberately added or naturally present in them. Again, the economic development of 
the country doesn't reveal basic literacy and awareness of general people. Necessary steps should 
be taken by the authority and mass people should change their mind set up and have to avoid 
those who create harm. Purpose of the Study: Brief review of chemical induced food and drinking 
contamination, their consequences and control. Healthcare providers/Policy makers have a major 
role play to concerned field. Findings: Both general people and the old system, are responsible for 
this unlivable condition of Bangladesh. Population is not the sole for this instance. A sense of poor 
rules and regulation is always found everywhere. Negligence is becoming a wide spread disease 
contaminating illiterate to well educated, all kind of people.  

 
Keywords: Carcinogen, Chemical intoxication, Food poisoning, Health hazard, Pathogen, Adulterants. 

 
Citation | A. K. Mohiuddin (2019). The Mysterious Domination of 
Food/Drinking Water Contaminants and Adulterants in 
Bangladesh. Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 6(1): 30-40. 
History:  
Received: 9 January 2019 
Revised: 18 February 2019 
Accepted: 21 March 2019 
Published: 4 June 2019 
Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 

Attribution 3.0 License  
Publisher:  Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support. 
Competing Interests: The author declares that there are no conflicts of 
interests regarding the publication of this paper. 
Transparency: The author confirms that the manuscript is an honest, 
accurate, and transparent account of the study was reported; that no vital 
features of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the 
study as planned have been explained. 
Ethical: This study follows all ethical practices during writing.   

 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 
2. Materials and Methods ................................................................................................................................................................... 31 
3. Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 
4. Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................................ 38 
5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 39 
References .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 39 
 

 
 
 
 
 

http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.20448/journal.512.2019.61.30.40&domain=pdf&date_stamp=2017-01-14
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.20448/journal.512.2019.61.30.40&domain=pdf&date_stamp=2017-01-14
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AESR/article/view/1828
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1596-9757


Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

31 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

1. Introduction 
Contamination is the presence of an unwanted substance where it should not be or at concentrations above 

recommended. Pollution is contamination that results in adverse biological effects to resident communities. Food 
contaminants and adulterants gave a new dimension in city life, together rest of the country. Rural people are less 
exposed to adulteration than urban people because of busy life, arrangement of food/spice item are mostly obtained 
from nearby grocery stores, chain shops and nearby open markets. Recent media reports on the malpractice in the 
food sector has revealed horrifying scenario leading to massive public outcry. Although there is no official statistics 
on food borne illness, it is perceived to be a major problem in urban areas of Bangladesh. Contaminated food, filthy 
and unhygienic environment of urban cities result in health hazard which may even cause deaths. The healthcare 
providers/policy makers’ role in environmental health is related primarily to being alert to the conditions 
prevailing in the community and of working with others to adequately control any of the attendant hazards. 
 

2. Materials and Methods 
Comprehensive literature search followed by consulting healthcare professionals, Hospital, clinic associates, 

newspaper journalists, NGO workers about adulteration and food contamination. A few high officials were asked 
help for necessary books, journal, and newsletters. A few local magazine and newspapers also observed to get the 
necessary concern. Projections were based on various types of adulteration in food served/sold to general people, 
contaminated drinking water supply from a variety of sources.  
 

2.1. Gross Outcomes of Chemical Contamination 
Food remains a significant vehicle of disease organisms. Foodborne disease, more commonly but often 

incorrectly called “food poisoning,” is grossly underreported. In most instances the illness produced by 
contaminated food is mild and of short duration, but more severe outbreaks (such as hepatitis A, most commonly 
seen in public restaurants) can occur. Epidemics of food-borne disease are dramatic and sudden, and most people 
become sick within 6 to 24 hours after consuming the contaminated foodstuffs. The epidemic pattern of food-borne 
disease presents differently from the gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) induced by 
intestinal enteroviruses. The safety laws and regulations of Bangladesh are as given in Table 1. WHO published – 
chemical exposure to toxic level is suspected to be involved in causing – 
 

• Carcinoma 

• Cardiovascular disease 

• Kidney, liver dysfunction Hormonal Imbalance 

• Premature birth 

• Suppression of Immune system 

• Impaired development of nervous system 

• Mental health problems and 

• Learning disabilities/Cognitive dysfunction 
 

Table-1. Food Safety Laws and Regulations and Food Standards in Bangladesh. 

Agricultural Products Market Act, 1950 (revised in 1985) 
Fish Protection & Conservation Act, 1950 (latest amendment in 1995) 
The Food Grain Supply (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Ordinance, 1956 
The Bangladesh Pure Food Ordinance, 1959 (Bangladesh Ordinance No. LXVIII of 1959) 
Agricultural Pest Ordinance 1962 
Agricultural Produce Markets Regulation Act, 1964 (revised in 1985) 
The Cantonments Pure Food Act 1966 
Destructive Insects and Pests Rules, 1966 (Plant Quarantine) amended up to 1989 
The Bangladesh Pure Food Rules 1967 
The Special Powers Act, 1974 
The Animals Slaughter (Restriction) and Meat Control (Amendment) Ordinance, 1983  
Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 and Marine Fisheries Rules, 1983 
Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Ordinance, 1983 
The Pesticide Ordinance, 1971 and The Pesticide Rules, 1985 
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance, 1985 (XXXVII of 1985) 
The Radiation Protection Act, 1987 
The Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Act, 1989  
The Essential Commodity Act, 1990 
National Food Policy 1996 
National Agriculture Policy 1996 
Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Rules, 1997 
National Food and Nutrition Policy 1997 
National Fisheries Policy 1998 
National Policy for Safe Water and Sanitation 1998 
National Health Policy 2000  
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (Amendment) Act, 2003 
The Bangladesh Pure Food (Amendment) Act, 2005 
Product Labeling Policy 2006 
National Livestock Policy 2007 
Fish Feed and Animal Feed Act 2010 
Export and Import Policy 2009-2012 
The Bangladesh Food Safety Act 2013 
BSTI Ordinance and many others 

                          Source: Nasreen and Ahmed [1]. 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

32 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

2.2. Laboratories for Food Analysis 

• Public Health Laboratory (IPH) 

• BSTI (Ministry of Industries) 

• Food testing Laboratory (Ministry of Food & Disaster management) 

• Food testing Laboratory (Dhaka City Corporation) 

• Institute of Food Radiation Biology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission 

• Institute of Food Science Technology, BCSIR 

• Institute of Nutrition & Food Science, University of Dhaka 

 
3. Results and Discussion 

Food adulteration is the most notorious enemy of mankind. Civilization has its own drawback that even 
causing destruction of itself. Very few people raised voice on this but crippled by the facts of commercialism. The 
scope of this article is limited to chemical food contaminants and adulterants. A few discussions based on real life 
experience and recent studies or reports from various journals and news articles are summarized here. 
 

3.1. Food and Supply Water Contamination  
Dhaka city, among huge amount of solid wastes per day from industrial discharge, fertilizers, fossil fuels, 

sewage sludge and municipality wastes and they are the major sources of heavy metals in soils and subsequent 
uptake by crops, vegetables and other food items causing serious health hazards to human beings [2-4]. A 
significant transfer of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc, molybdenum and vanadium 
like heavy metals took place from soils to vegetables (spinach, tomato and cauliflower) grown in industrially 
polluted soils of Konabari at Gazipur and Keraniganj in Dhaka [5]. In the absence of effluent treatment plants 
(ETP), the factory wastes are drained out at will into the farmlands, and ultimately contaminate the farm produce. 
In our country we have allowed things like pollution and food contamination to run riot. Till now, no agency, 
either under the health ministry or the ministry of science and technology or the ministry of industries, has 
conducted any examination of the pesticide- residue levels or toxic chemicals in the foodstuff being marketed [6]. 
Apart from these, the slum areas are both populated and are in greatest risk of notorious pathogen found both in 
food sample and supplied water Table 2. According to Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), it 
can currently supply 75% of water demand, out of which 85% is from groundwater sources (Deep Tube wells). The 
presence of toxic metal lead in Elephant road, Dhaka University, Jatrabari, and Demra area and toxic Penta Chloro 
Phenol (PCP) and existing pathogenic bacterial load in the WASA supplied drinking water from different areas of 
Dhaka city were found to be unsuitable for human consumption Table 3. 

 

3.2. Arsenic Issue of Drinking Water 
Twenty million people in Bangladesh are still drinking water contaminated with arsenic, two decades after the 

potentially deadly toxin was discovered in the supply [7]. The Bangladesh government is failing to adequately 
respond to naturally occurring arsenic in drinking water across large areas of rural Bangladesh, 
 
Table-2.  Detection of Foodborne Pathogens in Food and Household Water Samples Collected at Point of Use from Four Slums of Dhaka 
City, Bangladesh, December 2015 To May 2016 [8]. 

Presence of organisms in food/water Overall n = 56 

A. Organisms present in Food n (%) 95% CI 

Yeast and mould (>100 CFU/mg) 48.0 (85.7) 0.74–0.93 
Coliforms (>100 CFU/mg) 41.0 (73.2) 0.59–0.84 
B. cereus (>100 CFU/mg) 27 .0 (48.2) 0.35–0.62 
E. coli (>100 CFU/mg) 17.0 (30.4) 0.19–0.44 
Staphylococcus (>100 CFU/mg) 8.0 (14.3) 0.08–0.27 
V. cholera 2.0 (3.5) 0.01–0.14 

B. Organisms present in Water Overall n = 16 n (%) 95% CI 

Total coliforms 16.0 (100) – 
Fecal coliforms 16.0 (100) – 
Total aerobic bacterial count 16.0 (100) – 
Yeast 16.0 (100) – 
Mould 16.0 (100) – 
Staphylococcus 16.0 (100) – 
E. coli 10.0 (62.5) 0.35–0.86 
Fecal streptococci 9.0 (56.3) 0.29–0.79 
Pseudomonas 7.0 (43.8) 0.21–0.71 

Note: Total coliforms and fecal coliforms count (CFU/g). 

 
Human Rights Watch said in a report. Approximately 20 years after initially coming to international attention, 

an estimated 20 million people in Bangladesh – mostly rural poor – still drink water contaminated over the 
national standard [11]. Bangladesh’s health system largely ignores the impact of exposure to arsenic on people’s 
health. An estimated 43,000 people die each year from arsenic-related illness in Bangladesh, according to one study 
[12]. The government identifies people with arsenic-related illnesses primarily via skin lesions, although the vast 
majority of those with arsenic-related illnesses don’t develop them. Those exposed are at significant risk of cancer, 
cardiovascular disease, and lung disease as a result, but many receive no health care at all [13]. 
 
 
 
 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

33 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Table-3. Lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Arsenic content in first 14 water samples [9]. 

Sample 
No. 

Sampling Area Pb content 
(mg/L) 

Cd content 
(mg/L) 

Cr content 
(mg/L) 

As content 
(µg/L) 

Total Bacterial 
Count c.f.u./100mL 

1 Dhaka University 0.52 0.05 BDL 0.78 4.0 × 105 
2 Bangshal BDL 0.03 BDL 0.43 2.1 × 104 
3 DMCH BDL 0.04 BDL 0.25 1.0 × 104 
4 Basabo BDL BDL BDL 5.12 4.2 × 106 
5 Komlapur BDL BDL BDL 0.21 - 
6 Badda BDL 0.04 BDL 1.29 1.0 × 105 
7 Sobujbagh BDL 0.04 BDL 0.42 5.2 × 106 
8 Shagun Bagichaa BDL 0.06 BDL BDL 5.0 × 103 
9 Demra 0.46 0.07 BDL 0.44 - 
10 Jatrabari 0.51 0.07 BDL 0.15 1.5 × 104 
11 Mohammadpur BDL 0.07 BDL 0.53 5.0 × 103 
12 Panthapath BDL 0.07 BDL 0.29 3.0 × 104 
13 Elephant Road 0.53 0.08 BDL 0.10 2.5 × 104 
14 Shampur BDL 0.08 BDL 0.56 3.5 × 104 

   Source: Sabrina, et al. [10]. 

 

3.3. Food Adulterants 
Important food hazards include microbial hazards, pesticide residues, misuse of additives, chemical 

contaminants, including biological toxins and adulteration. Although microbiological contamination and chemical 
hazards have received most attention, it is recognized that food adulteration and food fraud should not be neglected 
considering their role in public health [14]. Food adulteration includes various forms of practices, such as mixing, 
substituting, concealing the quality of food by mis-labelling, putting up decomposed or expired food, and adding 
toxic substances [15]. About the proportion of adulterated food items in the market varied between 70% to 90%. 
More than 76 percent food items in the market were found adulterated in a random survey by public health 
laboratory of Dhaka City Corporation in 2004 [16, 17].  

According to the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease & Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), there is 
approximately 150 food items in the country. A study by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) revealed that more 
than 50% of the food samples they tested were adulterated. Textile dyes, which are highly injurious to health, are 
being randomly used to color many types of food. Textile dyes, which are highly injurious to health, are being 
randomly used to color many types of food [18]. Clay powder is mixed with the mixture of turmeric powder and 
cold toxic yellow dye to make it yellow. Water and salt are well mixed with these species to increase the weight. 
Mangoes, watermelon, litchi, watermelon, pineapple, papaya and bananas are artificially ripened using a 
carcinogenic chemical called ethylene oxide Table 4.  

In bananas, another chemical called calcium carbide is used that becomes a spray Acetyl-gas to generate heat. 
Dalda (hydrogenated vegetable oil/ fat popular in South Asia) used in cooking is an example of a worst case false. 
"Our stomach temperature is 37 degrees Celsius and the melting point is 54 degrees Celsius Dalda. So, there is no 
way that Dalda can be absorbed by the body [19].  

Most sweetened condensed milk products sold in the market actually contains palm oil which is used in 
substitute for cow’s milk and therefore most sweetened condensed milks out there do not contain milk at all [20]. 
Fish is considered to be an essential protein for people of all ages. Many fish sellers spray fish with formalin in an 
indiscriminate manner, it makes the fish or fruits stiff and keeps them looking fresh for longer Table 5. 
Undoubtedly human health is now under the possession of formalin, in our country about 400 tons formalin is 
being imported which are goes to human stomach, creates deadly mistreats on long term exposure Table 6, even 
though for laboratory or research purposes 100 tons of Formalin is quite enough, 80% of the imported formalin 
being added to food only for business purposes.  

Three-fourths of the marketed vegetables, fruits, and fish contain pesticides and formalin residues. The 
consumption of such foods might lead to serious diseases [21]. Ironically even food color is being adulterated. 
Substandard food color is finding its way into many types of food. This includes the reddish jelapi, and the saffron 
beguni, peaju or alur chop. Candy, chips, ice cream, chewing gum and even biryani may contain large amounts of 
poor-quality food color. Cooking oil that is so commonly used to deep fry items should only be used once but many 
food vendors and restaurants recycle burnt oil. Once the oil is used for cooking, it becomes oxidised. The more the 
oil is used, the more pre-oxide is created which is really harmful for the body.  

This gets more poisonous with continued usage. In 2017, police seized around 3,000 eggs suspected to be 
artificial during a raid in Patiya upazila, Chittagong. They also arrested two men – an egg shop owner and an egg 
supplier – suspected to be involved in the trade and marketing of fake eggs [24]. Doubt also pointed in rice also. 
The term ‘plastic rice’ was coined by the online media around 2010, when China reported its use for adulteration of 
a premium rice called Wuchang, which is known for its aroma [25].  

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) in Dhaka and the World Health Organization (WHO) in their joint study 
on food adulteration in 1994 tested 52 street vendors and found that all of their food samples were contaminated 
with different types of pathogenic microorganisms. They also conducted another study in 2003 in Dhaka city and 
found that 96% of sweetmeats, 24% of biscuits, 54% of breads and 59% of ice creams Table 7 were extensively 
adulterated [26]. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

34 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Table-4. Adulterants Used in Different Food Items of Vegetable Origin as Reported in Lay Press Reports [22]. 

Food category and food  item Adulterant 

Edible oil Argemone oil, mineral oil and rancid oil given commonly** 
Soybean oil 
Mustard oil 

Palm oil, chemical*, color*, burnt Mobil† from rail locomotives, burnt oil from electric 
transformer Chemicals 

Food grain and grain products  
Lentils, mugdal, chola, mosurdal, 
dabli, mashkolai, buter dal (lentil 
types) 

Toxic coloring agents*, imported low-quality inedible lentils mixed with textile dye* and have 
fungal growth; less expensive Mashkolai dal powdered with champa color* and sold as mugdal 

Rice  Urea added to make it whiter 

Dhekichata chal (husked 
rice), ata (course flour) 

Red toxic color* mixed with rice and ata to sell as husked rice, red atta 

Muri (puffed rice)  Urea fertiliser to make it whiter and puffier 

Wheat, corn Animal feed packaged as human food 
Semai (vermicelli) Dalda made with rotten potato, cow intestine, low-quality palm oil 

Vegetables and tubers  
Vegetables Organophosphorus compounds and other pesticides 
Tomato Calcium carbide for artificial ripening 
Potol (pointed gourd), peas Textile dye* 
Eggplant Pesticide* 
Green peas Chemically colored* Dabli 
Potato Red toxic color* 

Spices  
Mixed spices (powder) Brick dust, saw dust, chaler kura (dust from outer layer of rice) 
Turmeric powder Brick dust, buter dal, kheshari dal (lentils), artificial powder, color 
Chili powder Powder with color 
Coriander powder Chaler kura (dust from outer layer of rice), toxic color* 
Zeera (cumin) powder Brick dust, toxic color*, powder 
Pepper Papaya seed 
Salt No iodine 

Bakery products  
Cake‡ Textile dye, chemicals*, inedible date expired ata/maida, fertiliser urea, substandard inedible 

dalda, rotten egg 
Biscuit‡ Ammonium bicarbonate, sodium cyclamate, fertiliser urea, toxic coloring agents*, palm oil, 

burnt oil, outdated inedible ata/maida 
Bread‡ Rotten egg, outdated ata/maida 

Fruit and fruit products (Lead arsenite, Calcium carbide, Ethephon, Formalin, Injection of dye in general) 

Mango, banana, pineapple Calcium carbide for artificial ripening 
Cherry Koromcha (Carissa carandas, Christ’s thorn) with chemical color 
Orange and lychee juice Water, flavor, textile dye*, sweet pumpkin, and color 
Imported juices Substandard, date expired with new sticker 
Snacks  
Noodles‡ Dhekichata chal, lal atta (coarse wheat flour), red potato 
Chanachur Fried in burnt mobil†, no potato, imported powder, and color 
Peyaju, beguni Toxic dye* 

Chocolate, sugar, and honey  
Chocolate Powder, sugar, color*, chemical 
Sugar Soda used instead of sugar in food 
Honey Sugar syrup 

Others  
Pickle  Inedible ingredients 
Jorda (smokeless tobacco) Wood dust, chemical 
Mineral water and 
drinking-water‡ 

Tap-water, arsenic contaminated, contaminated with bacteria, no 
mineral 

Note: *Chemical nature/composition not mentioned/specified; 
**Argemone oil leads to Epidemic dropsy, Loss of vision, Heart diseases, Tumor, Mineral oil cause liver damage and carcinogenic; 
Rancid oil leads destroys vitamin A and E 
†Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) used as coolant in automobiles and transformers;  
‡Prepared in unhygienic condition 

 
Table-5. Underlying Reasons behind Adulteration Issue in Fish Supply Chain of Bangladesh [23]. 

Reasons Details  

A cheap method to prevent Post harvest 
Loss  

To prevent this post-harvest loss one of the cheap methods is to use formalin and other 
toxic chemical which helps to keep this fish fresh for a long time.  

Lack of technical knowledge   Lack of proper technical knowledge contributes in use of waste material in fish culture, 
improper handling after post-harvest and use of formalin and other toxic elements.  

Lack of ice box, unavailability of ice, high 
price of ice, lack of cold store to keep 
unsold fish.  

Ice/Icebox is expensive. Main problem in the market of Bangladesh is there is lack of cold 
storage in the market place. As a result, there is no proper way to preserve unsold fish.  

Lack of awareness   Most of the traders do not aware of the danger of using these harmful chemicals. On the 
other hand, customers are also not properly aware of this issue.  

Lack of government initiative  Co-ordination between authorities is a major issue, does not appear to be any cohesive 
view regarding procedures and penalties for the same offence by officials from same 
organisation.  

Lack of policy framework  Food laws and regulations are mostly outdated and fragmented. Even the new Safe Food 
Act 2013 is not free from this as it is basically modeled on the Pure Food Ordinance of 
1959.  

Inadequate Penalties  Considering the extent of harmfulness of food adulteration, penalties mentioned in law is 
insufficient. For an example, the penalty for food adulteration is maximum term of six 
months of imprisonment or up to a maximum fine of BDT 1000 which is equivalent to 
EUR 10.77. Considering the gravity of the offences this punishment is not hard enough.  

  Source: Fatema and Moslah [23]. 
 
 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

35 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Table-6. Effect of Formalin Treated Food Consumption on Health [23]. 

Exposure routes   Effect on human  

Carcinogenicity  Formalin has the potential effect to cause cancer, repeated and prolonged exposure increases the 
risk of cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, oropharynx and nasal passage  

Reproductive health  It has a harmful effect on reproduction system by inducing oxidative stress.  
Skin (dermal)  Prolonged and repeated contact with formalin could cause numbness (lack of feeling) and a 

hardening or tanning of the skin  
Eye contact  Formalin solution splashed in the eye can cause injuries from transient discomfort to severe such as 

loss of vision   
Source: Fatema and Moslah [23]. 

 
Table-7. Adulterants Used in Different Food Items of Animal Origin as Reported in Lay Press Reports [22]. 

Food category and food item 

Hen egg** White eggs of farm hens colored red with textile dye* to sell as local hen eggs. Tortoise eggs sold as 
hen eggs 

Fish Inject formalin through the gills or dip fishes in water treated with chemicals, such as chloro-fluoro 
carbon (CFC); DDT† powder to prevent rotting; add red color* to give fresh look; sell rotten fish 

Dry fish DDT† 
Mutton Buffalo, sheep and beef meat sold as mutton 
Beef Buffalo meat sold as beef 
Halim‡ Left over bones, intestine 

Sweetmeats and dairy products 

Butter Cow’s intestine, dalda mixed with color*, powder* 
Ghee, dalda 
(hydrogenated 
vegetable oil) ‡ 

Banaspati, toxic chemical*, potato smash, cow’s fat, intestine 

Sweetened curd‡ Textile dye* 
Sweetmeats‡ Textile dye named ‘thousand power color’ and toxic chemicals*; rotten eggs; dalda made with cow’s 

intestine, saccharin, soybean oil and vegetable oil instead of milk fat; paste of ground rice and 
sulphuric acid mixed with milk to make posset 

Jilapi (coil-like juicy 
sweet) 

Fried with Mobil 

Halua Rotten carrot and lau (bottle gourd), chemical* 
Ice-cream‡ Unsold foul-smelling ice-cream refined and re-packaged, almost no milk, 

palm oil for soap manufacturing, textile dye*, low-quality milk powder, 
sodium cyclamate 

Imported milk 
powder 

Adulterated, low-quality, date expired, without BSTI approval 

Fast food and restaurant food† 
Jelly, sauce Toxic coloring agents*, chemicals*, spirit 
Chicken** Dead chicken; cooked and raw meat refrigerated together 

Shrimp Sold rotten 
Fish Fried and raw fish refrigerated together 
Note: *Chemical nature/composition not mentioned/specified;  
** BLRI also showed that broiler meat and egg showed presence of antibiotic residue of Ciprofloxacin, Sulfonamide, Oxytetracycline and Enrofloxacin in 
high level. 
†Dichloro-diphenyl trichloroethane;  
‡Prepared in unhygienic condition;  
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) used as coolant in automobiles and transformers 

 
Consumption of adulterated food items may cause asthma, sore throat, larynx constriction, bronchitis, skin 

infections, allergic reactions, diarrhea, hematuria, circulatory failure, numbness, dizziness, kidney failure, stomach 
cancer, liver cancer, nervous disorders and many other diseases Table 8. After consumption of adulterated food 
items, thousands of people are becoming sick. Children are the worst victims. About three million people suffered 
from diarrhea during 2005-2009 and about 15% of children died in 2011 as reported by the Directorate General of 
Health Services [27]. The long-term effects are also very severe especially the incidence of renal failure, liver 
damage and cancer which are increasing alarmingly in Bangladesh. Heavy metals, such as lead, chromium and 
arsenic accumulate in the body that might cause kidney and liver damage and develop abnormality among children. 
Indiscriminate and irrational use of antibiotics in poultry without following withdrawal period may result in 
unexpected residues in animal food and could cause serious health hazards to consumers. Research reports on 
antibiotic residues in broiler meat and liver from different farms and local markets for the presence of residues of 
ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline and amoxicilin antibiotics revealed significant level of 
exposure of antibiotic residues. There’s a greater chance of declining immunological responses and can 
detrimentally affect intestinal microbiota in susceptible individual. According to Prof. Muniruddin Ahmed (Clinical 
Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Dhaka University) Cooking cannot destroy antibiotic residues, which made them 
resistant to antibiotic treatment [28]. 

Milk in rural areas is usually adulterated with dirty water, which can cause hepatitis. People have now come to 
know about a new milk adulteration technique that uses a thickening agent, sorbitol, and detergent. ICDDR, B 
recent studies shows nearly 75% samples from primary-level producers were contaminated with coliform and more 
than 50% with fecal coliform bacteria. At the collection points, samples were found contaminated with a high 
number of coliform bacteria and fecal contamination of more than 90% while more than 40 % of the samples had a 
high E coli count [29]. Vegetable and fruit samples collected from around Savar, Dhamrai and Tongi show the 
presence of textile dyes, which, in the short-term, will cause diarrhea, food poisoning and gastrointestinal 
problems, but in the long-term toxic materials will accumulate in the body with serious health implications [30]. 
In Bangladesh, people allowed things like pollution and food contamination to run riot. Till now, no agency, either 
under the health ministry or the ministry of science and technology or the ministry of industries, has conducted 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

36 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

any examination of the pesticide- residue levels or toxic chemicals in the foodstuff being marketed. These 
merchants and traders are the enemy not only of the nation and their own children but of the entire mankind. The 
holy Prophet (PBUH) has disowned those who indulge in this immoral business. He said ‘’ The adulterator is not 
one of us’’ [31]. 
 

Table-8. Toxic Elements in Noxious Addition of Food/Additives with Possible Outcomes [17]; [22]; [29]; [16, 32-42]. 

Contaminants Food/Additives Possible Outcome 

Coloring agents chrome, tartzine 
and erythrosine  

Spices, sauces, juices, 
lentils and oils  

Cancer in kidney, liver, skin, prostate and lungs  

Rye flour (ibid)  Barley, bread and wheat 
flour  

Convulsion and miscarriage  

Hormone (ibid)  Cauliflower  Infertility of women  
Coal tar and industrial Dyes Sweets, Sauce, Pastry 

cream, powders spices 
Carcinogenic 

Burnt oil Crispy snack Food poisoning, reflux, heartburn 
Agenomato or  
monosodium glutamate  
(ibid)  

Chinese restaurant food 
items  

Nervous system disorder and depression  

Flour Chalk Powder GI problems 
Soap Ghee/Butter GI problems 
Calcium Carbide/Ethylene dioxide Ripening of fruits Cancer in kidney, liver, skin prostate and lung 
Urea (ibid) For whiten rice and puffed 

rice 
Damage of kidney & nervous system, Respiratory 
problem 

Brick Dust Chili powder Respiratory problem 
Sulfuric acid and palm oil Condensed milk Cardiac function problem 
Saw dust, Used and exhausted tea 
leaves 

Loose Tea Respiratory problem 

Sodium cyclamate Sweetmeat Cancer, Fetal abnormality 
Metanil Yellow Aniline dyes Turmeric powder Carcinogenic 
Melamine Milk Products Kidney malfunction 
Oleomargarine or lard   Butter  Asthma and weakened kidney function  
Yellow and Sudan Red colors (ibid)  Chili powder  Tumors in liver and bladder and finally for cancer  
DDT  Dried fish (Shutki)  Cancer especially breast cancer, liver cancer and 

pancreatic cancer, reproductive damage (Weaken 
semen, early menopause, exposure of teratogen and 
birth defects) and some neurological damage reported.   

Bottle and Jar water Bottle and Jar water Bottle and Jar water 
Formalin  Preservation of fish, meat, 

fruit and milk 
Throat cancer, blood cancer, childhood asthma and 
skin-diseases.  

Poisonous coloring agents like 
auramine, rhodamine b, malachite 
green, yellow G, Allura red, and 
Sudan red  

Applied on food  
items for coloring, 
brightness and freshness  

Damage liver and kidney and cause stomach cancer, 
asthma and bladder cancer  

Source: Mohiuddin [42]. 

 
3.4. Energy Drinks Vs Carbonated Drinks 

The government has decided to ban the production, marketing and import of energy drinks under the guise of 
carbonated beverages with immediate effect [43]. The Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) at a 
council meeting on also resolved to take legal action against the companies that have been advertising their 
products as energy drinks after having them listed as carbonated beverages with BSTI. The move came after the 
Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) wrote to BSTI to say the production of energy drinks in the name of 
carbonated beverages should not be allowed, as the ingredients of the two are significantly different. There is no 
government fixed standard for energy drinks in the country, Industries Minister told parliament once. Authority 
received complaints about the use of various highly addictive substances, including caffeine and opium, in energy 
drinks [44]. In 2012, a Department of Narcotics Control test conducted on energy drinks from several local and 
foreign companies had found excessive amount of artificial caffeine, Viagra (sildenafil citrate), beer and alcohol as 
ingredients [45]. The manufacture and advertising of energy drinks under a license for carbonated beverage is 
fraud, punishable under several laws including the BSTI Act and the Food Safety Act. Initially, the government 
will write to the companies to instruct them to discontinue their production and marketing of energy drinks. 
Punitive actions will follow if they do not comply, said the official. The government will also amend the import 
policy in order to blacklist the foreign energy drinks with harmful ingredients [46]. 
 

3.5. Safety Issues of Bottled Water 
So-called mineral water supplied to houses and offices in jars are not tested. In most cases, the water is filled in 

the jars right away from the tap and sometimes in the empty bottles of some of the well-known mineral bottle 
brands [47]. The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) has of late made a sensational revelation 
regarding the quality of water different companies supply for drinking in and around Dhaka. According to the 
findings of the government study, 'coliform bacteria' (pathogens from feces of humans and animals) has been found 
in 97% of so-called filtered water supplied in jars to households, shops and offices in the capital city of Bangladesh. 
A team of BARC researchers determined the 'horrifying' data while studying the level of minerals in jars and 
bottled water marketed in Dhaka city. The researchers sampled 250 jars from across the city's Farmgate, Karwan 
Bazar, Elephant Road, New Market, Chawk Bazar, Sadarghat, Keraniganj, Jatrabari, Motijheel, Basabo, Malibagh, 
Rampura, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Uttara, Airport, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Gabtoli, and on the 
city's outskirts at Aminbazar, Savar and Ashulia. The level of 'coliform bacteria' in the samples collected from 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

37 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Elephant Road, Chawk Bazar, Basabo, Gulshan and Banani areas was found significantly high in the research [21]; 
[48]. A few months ago, a mobile court busted six fake mineral water plants in Bosila area of Dhaka’s 
Mohammadpur and sentenced six staffers to different terms of jail. The team also seized 2000 jars of water and 
destroyed those later [49]. 
 

3.6. Food Adulteration during Ramadan 
The crime of those selling adulterated and unhygienic food items is very serious and strict action needs to be 

taken as per law against such guilty persons. According to media reports some 600 field-level sanitary inspectors 
are working across the country to ensure food safety for all during the holy month of Ramadan. This is welcome 
news but if previous records are anything to go by people should not get their hopes up too high. Even more 
unfortunate is the fact that this nefarious practice increases exponentially during the month of Ramadan. It was 
found that coloring agents are used in spices, sauces, juices, lentils and oils. Formalin and carbide used in fish, fruit, 
meat and milk [50]. The shopkeepers and the merchants many of them with a pious fade try to earn a large 
amount of profit by this unethical practice, and so they play with the life and health of the people. They mix 
dangerous things in the daily eatables.  
 

3.7. Sub-Standard Vermicelli (Shemai) and Cow Fattening Ahead of Eid 
Adulterated vermicelli flooded different markets in the capital ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious 

festivals of the Muslims, posing a serious threat to public health. A section of unscrupulous businessmen is busy in 
manufacturing sub-standard vermicelli in the port city ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr as the food item has a high demand in 
the day. According to local sources, some of the factories are using unrefined palm oil and animal fat to produce 
Laccha vermicelli while hazardous chemicals and toxic color were also used to make the food items. Bangla 
vermicelli is produced using flour and water and Laccha is produced with oil, flour sugar and water. Most cases, the 
vermicelli was being dried in unhygienic condition in the rooftop of the factories [51]. Seeking anonymity, a 
seasonal vermicelli maker said a section of businessmen in the city bought the adulterated vermicelli and sell them 
tagging labels of renowned companies. BSTI personnel left a comment as Bangla vermicelli is used to make by 
seasonal factory for a certain time, it is not mandatory to take license from BSTI, however, the factory should take 
health and hygienic certificate issued by the Sanitary Inspector [52, 53]. With Eid-ul-Azha around the corner, the 
Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) has recently urged the government to monitor how cattle is being reared and 
fattened in the farms in the country [54]. Knowingly causing such damage to public health in order to hike up the 
price of cows is a crime, and must be dealt with swiftly. The use of antibiotics, growth hormones, harmful 
chemicals, and steroids is prohibited by the Animal Feed Act 2010. Violators may be faced with a year in prison, a 
Tk 50,000 fine, or both. A large number of farmers involved in bull fattening just before 3 or 4 months of Eid-Ul-
Azha (Muslim festival), when they sell the animals with profitable price. Visiting different villages in Bera, Santhia 
and Ataikula upazilas of Pabna, and Shahjadpur and Baghabari areas in Sirajganj, these correspondents found that 
almost every household was using steroids, antibiotics and other chemicals for months in blatant violation of law. 
Everyone -- from cattle farm owners to landless farmers -- wanted to take full advantage of this. These cattle-
fattening drugs are also widely used in Chuadanga, Jhenidah, Nilphamari, Barisal, Faridpur, Manikganj and some 
other districts. Consumption of meat of these animals poses serious health risks for humans, according to experts 
[55]. The changes to the cow caused by these injections are not merely cosmetic – severe health damage is done to 
humans by the consumption of this meat. While most traders would still claim that the fattening supplements were 
not harmful, there is reason to believe these chemicals may cause cancer, kidney disease, and infertility in women 
[56]. 
 
3.8. Penalty Imposed on Famous Eateries 

Isn't it surprising that like many occasional drives against various crimes, the fight against unsafe food, too, has 
assumed the character of a seasonal activity? While this should have been a continuous and unrelenting activity 
round the year across the country, sporadic and infrequent moves here and there, leave no permanent impact on the 
sellers and producers of spurious food items of all varieties. Newspaper reports say that the drive against food 
adulteration is currently on in the capital, launched last week. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), the 
state watchdog to regulate the sector is reportedly monitoring the capital's food markets under the supervision of 
an executive magistrate. One has reasons to question the rationale behind the drive in the capital alone, that too 
with just one magistrate. The effectiveness of the drive is bound to cause nothing more than a ripple with mobile 
courts punishing a few sweetmeat shops, restaurants and if at all, some kitchen market sellers. The fact that such 
drives, sporadic and half-hearted, failed to bring any discipline in the country's food market cannot be disputed. 
However, famous eateries/food chains are not devoid of these cases of adulteration and substandard food staffs. 
Penalty imposed on these famous shops/food chain should at least give an idea to general people that paying high 
price is not always an indicator of good quality. Even a few of them were penalise more than once or twice for the 
same reason but substandard food serves never ended Table 9. For a better view references regards are attached in 
this table with date published. 

Government officials monitoring food markets in capital Dhaka fined businesses millions of BDT only after 
finding that their food items contained ingredients harmful to human health. Inadequate monitoring of food 
markets may have exposed people’s health to serious hazards from consumption of substandard and adulterated 
foods. In the absence of corrective measures, punishing the offenders-at times by way of hefty monetary penalties-is 
not an appropriate method of dealing with the problem. A properly institutionalized mechanism with sufficient 
manpower and regular monitoring round the year can only bring things to some semblance of order. In this 
regard, it is important that the BSFA and other agencies such as the BSTI and the city corporations which also run 
such drives maintain a well-coordinated plan of action. It is also important that punitive actions should be backed 
by actions to improve the quality and standard of food of all varieties. To monitor the situation, inspection and 
sudden raids are welcome, but it must not be forgotten that inspection is just one of the many ways to rein in food 
adulteration.  

 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

38 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Table-9. Eateries/Chain Shops Raid List for Adulteration/Substandard Food Serving. 

Eateries/Super Shops Possible Reasons/Issues Reference Date 
Published 

Khushbu Biriyani, Gulshan Textile dyes for coloring Biriyani Daily Sun & Daily 
Bangladesh 

29.05,18 & 
28.05.18 

‘Kosturi Restaurant, Gulshan unhygienic environment inside the 
restaurant. 

UNB News 28.05.18 

Swapno’s Banani Date-expired food Daily Sun 29.05.18 
KFC, American Burger, Dawat-e Mejban, United 
Catering, Dynamic Food Court, Dhanmondi 

Rotten and unhealthy foods Daily Sun 29.05.18 

Meenabazar’s Shantinagar Soda water without the BSTI approval 
and other issues. 

Daily Sun 29.05,18 

Agora and Nandan Super shop Selling different local and foreign 
products having no BSTI approval. 

Daily Sun 29.05,18 

Boomers Café, Baily Road keeping food in unhygienic 
environment  

Daily Sun 29.05,18 

SBARRO Cafe keeping sauce without a BSTI 
approval. 

Daily Sun 29.05,18 

Kutumbari Restaurant, Chittagong Preserving date-expired fish and meat. DhakaTribune 28.06.16 
Bonoful Sweets, Chittagong Harmful ammonia for making biscuits 

crispy. 
DhakaTribune 28.06.16 

Sizzle, Chittagong Applying color in making cakes which 
is unfit for human consumption 

DhakaTribune 28.06.16 

Flavor Sweet and Bakers and Fulkoli Food 
Products, Chittagong 

Date-expired food colour in 
manufacturing cake and sweetmeat. 

DhakaTribune 28.06.16 

Fakhruddin Biryani, Baily Road Using expired and rotten ingredients 
for making Kebab and Halim 

The News Today 06.02.18 

‘Mr Bakers, Turag Area Preserving date-expired and stale cake 
and making biscuits and toasts without 
BSTI license. 

The Daily Sun 16.06.17 

Arabians Sweets and Bakery For not writing manufacturing and 
expiry dates on their packets. 

The Daily Sun 16.06.17 

‘Pusty Dairy and Bakery, Malibagh For not taking BSTI license for 
producing curd. 

The Daily Sun 16.06.17 

‘Lucky Vermicelli Factory’ at Matuail in Jatrabari Making vermicelli in an unhygienic 
environment. 

The Daily Sun 16.06.17 

Yammi Yammi’ and ‘Ujjal Food Products’ at 
Pallabi, Mirpur 

Making food items in an unhygienic 
manner 

The Daily Sun 16.06.17 

New Food Hotel and Restaurant, Shibganj Sweets, 
Tuhin Food Hotel, New Bidyut Hotel, Tripti Hotel 
and Cafe RAJ Hotel, Memory Biriani House, Amir 
Ali Fish Shop in Rajshahi City 

Selling stale and adulterated foods The Daily Star 17.09.18 

Maloncho Restaurant at the New Elephant Road Poor Hygiene DhakaTribune 25.07.15 
Food Corner, Kings Fast Food, Penji Fast Food, 
Kepray Fast Food, Capital Fast Food, Al Amin 
Food, Saikat Fast Food, Welcome Fast Food and Al 
Jaber Fast of Newmarket, Dhaka 

Selling unhygienic food. United News of 
Bangladesh UNB 
Beta 

20.05.18 

KFC’ & Boomers Baily Road Serving expired and chemical-mixed 
food items. 

DhakaTribune 25.07.15 

Pizza Hut, Baily Road Using chemicals in two of its popular 
sauces without the authority’s 
approval. 

DhakaTribune 25.07.15 

Chandrima Restaurant and Mini Chinese, Kasturi 
Chhayanir and Thai Chinese Restaurant and New 
Star Kebab 

Preserving and selling unhygienic food 
items 

The Independent & 
Daily Prothom Alo 

19.06.17 & 
18.06.17 

Dawar-E-Mejban, Dhanmondi Using harmful chemicals to color 
foods. 

NEWAGE 25.05.18 

Ma-Moni Hotel and Restaurant, Suprema 
Restaurant, Kosturi Restaurant, Rangpur City 

Preserving foodstuffs in unhygienic 
and dirty environment 

BSS News and 
Bangladesh Post 

26.09.18 

Agora, Shwapno and Meena Bazar Chittagong For selling rotten meat and fish Bdnews24.com 11.06.16 
Meena Bazar, Agora, Swapna Dhaka For selling low-grade packed products. Bdnews24.com 09.04.12 
Agora, Meena Bazar and fast food chain Coopers, 
Shantinagar 

For keeping expired and stale food 
items 
(rotten fish, meat and expired food 
items) 

The Daily Star and 
The Independent  

15.05.16 & 
11.05.16 

Agora in Prabartok, The Grocer, and Khulshi Mart 
in Khulshi, Meena Bazar in Sholoshahar and 
Shwapno in Gol Pahar Chittagong 

Selling products at hiked up prices and 
also selling rotten and stale items 

The Daily Star 11.06.16 

Platinum Suites, King’s Confectionary, Kobe 
Restaurant, Pizza Inn  

Selling expired, stale and rotten foods. Bdnews24.com 02.06.18 

Disney Dine Restaurant Kabab Jangson Limited 
Nababi Bhoj Solution Lounge, Shamoli 

Selling adulterated food items in 
unhygienic conditions 

DhakaTribune 18.05.18 

Mir Al-Amin Hotel and Sharif Hotel Producing food items in an unhygienic 
condition during Ramadan 

Daily Sun 19.06.17 

Alauddin Sweetmeat, Royal Restaurant Lalbagh, 
Star Hotel and Kabab, Voot Restaurant, Ambala 
Sweetmeat, Iftari Bazar and Dominous Pizza in 
Dhanmondi 

Using illegal food colorings, poisonous 
chemicals and used cooking oil in 
Ramadan 

The Daily Star 29.05.12 

Source: Mohiuddin [42]. 
 

4. Recommendations 
While contamination of food may be due to negligence, deliberate adulteration by toxic chemicals or 

radioactive materials for long shelf life of products and increasing the volume in size and weight-among the many 
crooked methods-is so rampant that it is difficult to find anyone who does not encounter an unpleasant moment of 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

39 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

food-related illness at least once a year. Taking care of the situation thus calls for a whole package of initiatives. In 
advanced countries this involves producing, handling, storing and preparing foods in such a way as to prevent 
infection and contamination in the entire chain. However, in situations prevailing in this country, it is not merely 
about maintaining a clean chain but putting in strong deterrents so that criminality in the business could be 
stopped. Sources of harmful stuffs must be plugged, if necessary, by way of ban on imports or local production. 
Strong advocacy on the detrimental effects of consumption should be routinely done. At the same time, training on 
safe and scientific methods of preservation of food products should also be a high priority in an attempt to curb 
adulteration. Adulteration and contaminant control are a never ending, on the other hand a continuous process. It 
will increase with time as the civilization go ahead. Pharmacists should be aware of the local occupations, 
companies, and factories and to be cognizant of the initial symptoms of disease. Again, pharmacists should become 
acquainted with the local community and to adapt the principles of health and medical care to the particular 
situations encountered. The pharmacist’s continuing education requirements should include watching the local 
pattern of society and its diseases, and changing the emphasis toward evolving disease patterns and their control. 
Government and regulatory authorities are to play strong role in controlling food contaminants and adulteration.  
 

5. Conclusion 
With constant change to the physical, biological, cultural, social, and economic environment, both healthcare 

providers and citizens should cultivate an informed awareness of these changes, and health providers should adapt 
their methods of health education, disease prevention, and disease control to the changes in each community. This 
is especially true food daily consumed, which require concerted community action for their control, but providers 
may play a much more fundamental and personal role in controlling food-borne diseases; often, the first indication 
of an outbreak of food-borne disease is time-limited, with an unusually large number of people seeking relief from 
health hazards. The necessary role in environmental health is related primarily to being alert to the conditions 
prevailing in the community and of working with others to adequately control any of the attendant hazards. 
Government related authorities, NGOs and other private organizations (e.g. Pharmaceutical companies) should 
take initiatives further to ameliorate food and drinking water situation which is worst among all other previous 
times. General people should be aware of these facts of mischiefs and take necessary steps on their own. A year-
round campaign regarding these issues in public places, electronic media and even in rural areas can bring a change 
as brought by diarrhea, Vitamin A campaigns back in 70’s and 80’s. 
 

Abbreviations 
BDL (Below Detection Limit); BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution); BCSIR (Bangladesh 

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research); ICDDR, B (International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, 
Bangladesh); ETP (Effluent Treatment Plants); IPH (Institute of Public Health); DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-
Trichloroethane); BFSA (The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority); BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research 
Council). 
 

References 
[1] S. Nasreen and T. Ahmed, "Food adulteration and consumer awareness in Dhaka City, 1995-2011," Journal of Health, Population, 

and Nutrition, vol. 32, pp. 452-464, 2014. 
[2] M. Hashem, M. Nur-A-Tomal, M. Abedin, and S. Bushra, "Heavy metal assessment of polluted soil around Hatirjheel Lake of 

Dhaka city, Bangladesh," Bangladesh Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, vol. 52, pp. 61-66, 2017. Available at: 
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v52i1.32084. 

[3] I. Mahmudul, Toxicity of heavy metals in soils and crops and its phyto-remediation dissertation for Phd department of soil. Dhaka-1000: 
Water and Environment University of Dhaka, 2015. 

[4] R. Ashiqur, J. S. Afroze, K. Bashar, M. F. Ali, and M. R. Hosen, "A comparative study of heavy metal concentration in different 
layers of tannery vicinity soil and near agricultural soil," American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, vol. 7, pp. 880-889, 2016. 
Available at: https://doi.org/10.4236/ajac.2016.712075. 

[5] M. R. Islam, "Consumption of unsafe foods: Evidence from heavy metal, mineral and trace element contamination," Doctoral 
Dissertation, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2013. 

[6] M. K. Asadullah, "Bitter truth rampant adulteration still a havoc," The Daily Star, 2011. 
[7] O. J. Eresh, "World water day taking responsibility for our future," The Daily Star, 2017. 
[8] M. Ishita, N. N. Naila, M. Mahfuz, M. Roy, A. S. Faruque, and T. Ahmed, "Children living in the slums of Bangladesh face risks 

from unsafe food and water and stunted growth is common," Acta Paediatrica, vol. 107, pp. 1230-1239, 2018. Available at: 
https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.14281. 

[9] S. Murshed, A. Hasan, F. M. Omor, and C. Subhagata, "Analysis of WASA supplied drinking water around Dhaka City from 
laboratory analysis perspective," International Journal of Chemical & Physical Sciences, vol. 2, pp. 20-27, 2013. 

[10] M. Sabrina, A. M. Hasan, F. M. Omor, and C. Subhagata, "Analysis of WASA supplied drinking water around Dhaka City from 
laboratory analysis perspective," International Journal of Chemical & Physical Sciences, vol. 2, pp. 20-27, 2013. 

[11] P. Richard, "The politics of arsenic-free water," DhakaTribune, 2017. 
[12] H. Jahan, "Arsenic in Bangladesh: how to protect 20 million from the world's largest poisoning," Guardian, 18 October 2016, 2016. 
[13] Human Rights Watch, "Nepotism and neglect the failing response to arsenic in the drinking water of Bangladesh’s rural poor," 

Human Rights Watch, 2016  
[14] FAO/WHO, FAO/WHO expert consultation. Food protection for urban consumers. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization, 1986. 
[15] K. Park, Park's textbook of preventive and social medicine, 18th ed. Jabalpur: Banarsidas Bhanot, 2005. 
[16] Staff Correspondent, "Food adulteration rings alarm bell STAR-RDRS roundtable told most food items adulterated, pose lethal 

risks to public health," The Daily Star, 2011. 
[17] F. Mirza, "Evaluating position of Bangladesh to combat ‘adulterated food’crisis in light of human rights," IOSR Journal of 

Humanities and Social Science, vol. 19, pp. 45-54, 2014. Available at: https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-19364554. 
[18] OP-ED, "OP-ED. Public health issues in Bangladesh the independent " 2018. 
[19] M. A. Aasha and S. R. Avik, "Eating away our health cover story star weekend magazine," vol. 4, 2004. 
[20] N. Qyshalini, "A doctor reveals that condensed milk contains more sugar than actual milk! Web goodtimes," 2017. 
[21] K. H. Zubair, "Time to end food adulteration," The Daily Star, 2018. 
[22] N. Sharifa and T. Ahmed, "Food adulteration and consumer awareness in Dhaka City, 1995-2011," Journal of Health, Population and 

Nutrition, vol. 32, pp. 452-464, 2014. 
[23] T. Fatema and M. Moslah, "Economic reasons behind adulteration issues in fish supply chain in Bangladesh," Journal of Business 

Studies, vol. 37, pp. 145-157, 2016. 
[24] S. I. Ashif, "Govt: There's no such thing as fake eggs in market Dhakatribune," 2017. 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2019, 6(1): 30-40 

40 
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

[25] Express, "The new Indian express. Plastic rice! Are you serious?," 2017  
[26] S. M. Rahman, M. A. Hoque, and M. R. A. Talukder, "Food security in Bangladesh: Utilization, nutrition and food adulteration," 

presented at the Paper Presented at the National Workshop on Food security, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 19–20 October 2005), 2005. 
[27] D. K. Nath, "Food or poison? Bdnews24.com," 2014. 
[28] H. Emran, "Antibiotics-fed poultry pose threat to public health NEWAGE Bangladesh," 2016. 
[29] NewsDesk, "NewsDesk. Over 75% pasteurised milk unsafe for direct consumption in Bangladesh: ICDDR, B study. 

bdnews24.com," 2018. 
[30] M. K. Asadullah, "Slow poisoning continues unabated," The Daily Star, 2010  
[31] Editorial, "Editorial. Food adulteration. The independent," 2017. 
[32] K. L. Zubair, A. Mohiuddin, and M. Bake, "Food contaminants: Bangladesh perspective Reference Id: PHARMATUTOR-ART-

1570," 2013. 
[33] S. Mohammad, "Heavy metal' in imported fish: Samples sent for retest," The Daily Star, 2018  
[34] R. M. Arifur, M. Z. Sultan, M. S. Rahman, and M. A. Rashid, "Food adulteration: A serious public health concern in Bangladesh," 

Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. 18, pp. 1-7, 2015. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3329/bpj.v18i1.23503. 
[35] T. Nishat, "Food adulteration: A serious health risk for Bangladesh. risingbd.com," 2017. 
[36] N. Abu, "Food safety and public health issues of Bangladesh," European Food and Feed Law Review, pp. 31-40, 2013. 
[37] M. Nehreen, M. Real, M. Akter, and H. Azam, "Food adulteration and bio-magnification of environmental contaminants: A 

comprehensive risk framework for Bangladesh," Frontiers in Environmental Science, vol. 4, p. 34, 2016. Available at: 
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2016.00034. 

[38] R. Shafkat, "Letters to the editor urea in puffed rice. The Daily Star August 27, 2013 Richard P. The politics of arsenic-free water," 
DhakaTribune, 2017. 

[39] K. Rajib, "Cover unsafe food unhealthy life," Daily Sun, 2015. 
[40] Editorial, "Editorial. Look for the flies- the future ahead!," Bangladesh Journal of Medicine, vol. 25, pp. 40-41, 2014. 
[41] M. Mahboob, "Food adulteration: The Bangladesh paradox," Law Journal Bangladesh, vol. 2, 2015. 
[42] A. Mohiuddin, "Chemical contaminants and pollutants in the measurable life of Dhaka City," European Journal of Sustainable 

Development Research, vol. 3, p. em0083, 2019. Available at: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/5727. 
[43] Business, "Business, staff reporter. Manufactures seek help to dispel doubts about beverages. The Independent," 2018. 
[44] Staff, "Staff correspondent. No standard fixed for energy drinks Amu tells JS," The Daily Star, 2015. 
[45] S. I. Ashif, "The dangers lurking in your energy drinks," DhakaTribune, 2017. 
[46] S. I. Ashif, "Energy drinks cannot be sold as carbonated drinks Dhakatribune," 2017. 
[47] M. A. Joynul, "What are we drinking: Water or poison? Daily Sun," 2018  
[48] M. Sarwar, "How safe is bottled water for drinking? The financial express," 2018  
[49] Online, "Online Report 6 fake mineral water plants busted in Dhaka, 6 jailed The Daily Star," 2018  
[50] U. Ahamed, "Food adulteration rampant consumers urge continuous drive against the menace daily sun," 2018. 
[51] U. Ahamed, "Substandard vermicelli floods city markets," The Daily Sun, 2018. 
[52] F. Mizanur, "Sub-standard vermicelli manufactured ahead of Eid. ," DhakaTribune, 2016. 
[53] S. Solaiman, "Adulterated vermicelli floods markets," The Daily Sun, 2017. 
[54] Editorial, "Monitor cattle fattening Proper planning can make the difference this time. The daily Star," 2018. 
[55] R. Pinaki and A. Kabir, "Cow fattening out of control traders cut long process short with help of harmful drugs," The Daily Star, 

2015. 
[56] Tribune Editorial, "Put a stop to unethical cow-fattening practices. DhakaTribune," 2016. 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asian Online Journal Publishing Group is not responsible or answerable for any loss, damage or liability, etc. caused in relation to/arising out of the use of the content. 
Any queries should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. 

 


