High level of heavy metal in imported milk powder

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has made the examinations of lead (Pb) compulsory for all imported powdered milk as the heavy metal, posing great health risks, was found in samples at an alarming level. The BFSA also directed customs authorities across the country to keep imported milk powder shipments in sealed warehouses and only allow marketing after getting satisfactory results of the Pb test.

BFSA said they tested milk powder samples of 15 companies after collecting those from markets and found high levels of the harmful heavy metal in products of all the companies.

The authority tested the milk powder samples twice in two different laboratories and got the same results.  Of those samples, milk powders marketed by six companies contained heavy metal lead at an extremely high level.  However, the BFSA did not disclose the names of the companies.  Sources said themaximum accepted level of lead (Pb) for milk powder is 0.02 mg per kg. But the tests found up to 0.1 mg per kg that is very alarming for public health.

Mahbub Kabir Milon, Member (Joint Secretary), BFSA said, “Pb test has been made compulsory for all the imported milk powder as heavy metal was found at an alarming level. Only after getting satisfactory result of the test, the milk could be marketed. Until getting the result the milk has to be sealed off in the warehouse.” All the sea and land ports of the country have been informed about it. We are taking punitive measure against the companies, he added.

A letter signed by BFSA Secretary Dr Md Khaled Hossain, issued yesterday said, “It to inform you that heavy metal was found at an alarming level in the powdered milk of some brands of the country, which poses a serious threat for human health especially for the children. This milk powder is imported from abroad in bulk/packed carrier and by re-packing, it is being sold in the country.”

“To ensure safe food at import level, it is necessary to control such shipments,” added the letter.

All the imported consignments, after clearing from the port, have to kept in the warehouses under the importers custody until getting the rest of the lab tests, said the letter.

The consignments have to be released taking undertaking from each importer that it would not be marketed under any circumstance, until getting the laboratory test done.

The letter also said BFSA has fixed three laboratories that are Atomic Energy Centre laboratory, Institute of Public Health laboratory and BCSIR (Science Lab) for testing lead (Pb) in powdered milk. The BFSA also directed that after sealing off warehouses of every consignment and the undertaking of the importers, the results of the tests have to sent to the chairman of the BFSA.

Contacted, Bayezid Hossain, Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong Custom House told The Independent, “We are yet to get the letter. However, we have come to know about it. It is definitely a good initiative for ensuring safe food. We will follow all the directives as per the letter during our taxation.”

As per the Chittagong Custom House, Bangladesh mainly imports milk powder from New Zealand, Australia, France, Ireland, Germany, Malaysia, Ukraine, Canada, Belgium, USA and India. In December 2017, through Chittagong port, a total of 5,376.60 Metric Tonnes (MT) of milk powder was imported and the government earned Tk133.80 crore as revenue from the imported milk.