10 companies sued as heavy metal found in milk

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has lodged cases against 10 companies as tests in two separate labs found existence of heavy metals harmful for human health in pasteurised milk produced by those companies.

BFSA inspector Kamrul Hasan on Wednesday filed the lawsuit with the safe food court, set at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) building.

Judge Mehedi Pavel took the lawsuit in cognisance.

The 10 companies are -- Aftab Milk and Milk Products Ltd, Akij Food and Beverage Ltd, Bangladesh Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd, BRAC Dairy and Food, Ichhamati Dairy and Food Products, Igloo Dairy Ltd, Pran Dairy Ltd, Shelaidah Dairy Ltd, Tania Dairy and Food Products and Baro Awlia Dairy Milk and Food Ltd, Kamrul Hasan told Prothom Alo.

BFSA sources said the High Court on 16 July directed the food safety regulatory body to test the samples of pasteurised milk produced by 11 companies. Following the directives, the samples of those companies were tested in two separate laboratories.

The test results found traces of heavy metals dangerous for human health in samples of 10 companies, the BFSA sources said.

BFSA chairman Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque on Monday ordered to file the lawsuit against the 10 producers and supplying bodies or persons of pasteurised milk of those companies under food safety act.