A rough deal

Tuesday, 21 May 2013 00:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

FIRST it was milk powder, then sugar and now even allegations of rotted animal parts in soda bottles. Monitoring of food products both into and out of Sri Lanka clearly need to be upgraded on a sustained timeframe to protect consumers and ensure quality.

Last week news reports were agog on the possibility of milk powder imports being banned due to contamination. This was followed over the weekend by reports of harmful substances being found in white sugar imported to Sri Lanka.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had disclosed that random tests on samples of Brazilian sugar had revealed a high level of toxic cadmium. The sugar was also being tested for arsenic, another heavy metal, which could cause serious health issues when ingested in high quantities.

However, while tests on imported sugar revealed these chemical substances, random checks on locally-produced sugar were clear. Random checks on imported dhal, potatoes and onions also did not show any toxic substances. Yet concerns over quality remain, partly due to previous experiences of low quality cement, fuel and other disasters.

Last week the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) also initiated legal action against a beverage company for allegedly releasing a soda bottle containing parts of a dead animal. The bottle had been purchased to be given to a sick child, according to reports, with the CAA being appealed to after the company in question had refused to pay compensation.

Earlier this year raids conducted by the CAA in Dambulla and Pettah also grabbed headlines. Raids in Pettah and Dambulla found 35,000 kilograms of rotten potatoes. In addition 200 kilograms of contaminated dry fish were uncovered in Pettah. An estimated 45 tons of rotten big onions were recovered from several Lak Sathosa warehouses on a tip-off by the CAA just days before they were to be released for human consumption. No follow up reports were made on the complicity of the Trade Ministry.

Low quality food sold at high prices is a constant issue within Sri Lanka. There are clearly larger problems that remain to be resolved. One obvious point would be to strengthen the CAA and other consumer organisations that can affectively monitor the quality of food in distribution nerve centres such as Dambulla and Pettah. The other is strong legal redress for the offenders with large fines. Consumers also need to be stakeholders in this endeavour by ensuring that trades people are not allowed to sell substandard products with impunity.

But the biggest loophole of all seems to be the absence of consistent and transparent testing processors so that there is sustained policing of products, at least covering the essential goods, so that people can fulfil their basic needs. This would also be an effective deterrent to companies that import or distribute substandard products.

Given Sri Lanka’s track record, it must be acknowledged that some of these groups would have connections to powerful people and as such could work to cover up or prevent testing. In such an instance it is important to establish an independent, run by a competent standards authority. Without such checks in place, local consumers will continue to pay and endanger their health.