Food jeopardy

While the media, both print and electronic, have been generally prompt in bringing up the food adulteration and toxicity issues, and can certainly do more in that area, food safety concerns should engage the attention of the whole community. All bodies of public opinion need to be involved in the massive awareness building drive that is being talked about. National Professor Nurul Islam has suggested that apart from the print and electronic media, local government bodies and even mosques should have a role to play in sensitising people against health hazards posed by adulterated and rotten food items. To our mind, a greater NGO involvement would be necessitated.

Unfair trade practices are a much bigger challenge than is readily recognised in the country. Starting from inter-ministerial coordination through formation of a food safety council to bring all relevant departments under one umbrella to strengthening existing food safety laws we have a whole range of missing links to provide for.

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We also need quick adjudication of cases relating to adulterated stuffs. Deterrent punishment should be meted out to those who play around with human lives instead of awarding kid glove penalties like small fines.

It's a pity we do not even have a composite legal framework for the protection of consumer rights.