Kid-glove jab won't do

What is of particular worry is that the food sellers are increasingly showing utter disregard for the physical well being of the consumers. They are mixing toxic substances and non-food grade colours and all sorts of substandard materials with foods to boost their illegal business. In addition to that, stale and rotten foodstuffs are being sold regularly.

Now, this is a serious threat to public health. People are suffering from various diseases as they ingest adulterated foods on a regular basis. The lure to make huge profits is getting the better of any concern for public health, or any punishment that may be meted out which is very light according to the present provisions of law.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The recent drive against adulteration saw some well-known food caterers or sellers being booked by the mobile vigilance team led by a magistrate. They have been fined up to a maximum of Tk one hundred thousand. We believe the penalty is negligible, especially considering the huge profits they have been making through serving substandard or adulterated foodstuffs, let alone the gravity of the crime itself which needs to be suitably recompensed. It is highly unlikely that such punishment will work as any deterrent; on the contrary, it is the simple economics of profitability far outstripping the fines to be paid that will induce them to return to business as usual, perhaps with vengeance.

Keeping in view the serious health hazards being posed by food adulteration, therefore, we suggest that criminal charges be brought against culprits, in whose hands the consumers are slow poisoned to death. Unless such crimes are punishable by jail sentences, the scourge cannot be fully eliminated. Obviously, the existing law needs to be given teeth to treat food adulteration as a criminal offence.