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+--- Thread: IF FOOD CHECMICAL CAN BECOME APPLE SIDRA THEN WHY (/showthread.php?tid=5203)
IF FOOD CHECMICAL CAN BECOME APPLE SIDRA THEN WHY - javed - 10-03-2008
Last week a small electronic and print media news stated that that Sindh Provincial Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed stated that the health department was going to carry out afresh investigation into the â9-year oldâ issue of the seized contaminated RBD palm oil following the directives of the apex court. New samples of the contaminated oil will be taken in the presence of well-reputed officers of health department, representatives of court and electronic and print media as the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University, suspected the authenticity of the commodity.
Can any one in his average wisdom think of in 9 long years, repeat in 9 long years, an oil contaminated or healthy still remains consumable?
Food adulteration/contamination is a common problem in our society resulting in serious underestimated health hazards. About two years back a report in the national press alarmed the nation that 44% of food samples from school canteens were found containing non-food grade coloring additives and more than one third water samples contaminated. Similarly food adulteration around 50% was reported by Lahore City Government with unwanted chemical treatment for some popular food commodities just to give better appearance and increase weight of the commodities.
Much concerns from the citizens and intellectuals have during the last two three years been shown on food adulteration but one angle of it has almost remained untouched. At least I have not seen even a word from any quarter during the last 20 years on that particular angle.
The most interesting is that no NGO, the so called protectors of citizens rights, no so called human rights activist like Asma Jehangir, no (late) M.D Tahir who on cutting ears of a donkey took the matter to the court, no Moulvi Iqbal Haider, no columnist like Rauf Kalasra, no advocate like Naeem Bukhari, ever cried over this subject. I have never believed on these so called mushroom growing NGOs who do not let any opportunity to start a campaign but only where it gave glamour to them but not at the risk of any weakening of their increasing personal relations with higher authorities. Take just one example. People are crying that electricity meters today are installed outside their premises, these meters are reporting high consumption (running fast), have been purchased by the electricity company concerned itself, have been installed under naked weather conditions outside houses causing burning out in rain even then in case of mal functioning or burnt out the consumer is to bear the cost. No so called NGO has ever spoken single a word on this injustice. In 1960s Hotel Intercontinental was the most expensive and biggest hotel in Karachi. Late Hakeem Saeed every year used to call writers, big guns on a yearly âSham-e-Hamdardâ in this hotel to shed some tears for lack of educational opportunities to the poor children. All of these attendees shed their tears eating âkukkarâ and other high cost luxurious dishes. There was then a very popular Jang columnist who once in his column stated that compared to Hakeem Saeed who holds annual worthless ritual of Sham-e-Hamdard, Hameed âBadmashâ {I am old and it is now about 40 years hence I do not remember the exact word but it was something like âBadmashâ] is hundred time better who actually practically provided free education to thousands deserving. Hameed was the Principal of Islamia College Karachi (It was the name if memories are not misguiding me in this old age), the biggest college of that time. He was quite a tough man but had a real kind heart for the poor needy. He condoned fees of hundreds and hundreds, provided admission to people coming from East Pakistan even at late stage of academic year arranging their University registration etc. What I am narrating here is totally based on my 25-30 years old memories hence errors in sequence or in my expression expected but facts are the same as this piece implies.
10-15 years back an auction notice appeared from Customs Department Multan announcing auction of many items one of which was âFOOD CHEMCIALâ. As a conscientious citizen I took up the matter that has the Customs got the âFOOD CHEMICALâ being auctioned got tested from Laboratories if it was âstillâ valid for human consumption. In return a report was presented in which the Laboratory concerned verified that the âAAPPLE SIDRAâ sample was tested and found fit for human consumption. The date of test report showed that the âitemâ was got tested after my raising the issue and not as a routine before putting that on auction. I argued that the laboratory report quote some âAPPLE SIDRAâ having been tested whereas the auction notice contained âFOOD CHEMICALSâ. My question was is it a standard routine of testing each and every item before auctioning or it was done only in this particular case after my raising eye brows on this particular âFood Chemicalâ. The Customs Department on this submitted some very discouraging personal type of remarks against me. At the same time I also found that the investigation officer being himself a senior bureaucrat was taking up the matter through his bureaucratic eye glasses and deliberately lacked the public spirit. Hence I withdrew my case from further follow up.
My argument is that banks, insurance companies, airlines, railways, customs, ports, coast guard all these put their confiscated goods for auction. It is a well known fact that warehousing facilities with our these organizations are inadequate in as much as most of such confiscated goods do not necessarily remain housed in conditions prescribed for such items. I am using an eye drop since for the last 3 years. I was told to keep it in refrigerator which I do. I purchase it from the market. The pharmacy from where I purchase it is a famous one and of course keeps it refrigerated. I buy it, put it in my pocket or in a hand bag while I do my other shopping in the market, traveling by bus then I reach home in 2-3 hours and put the drop in my refrigerator. Recently my eye specialist told me that my eye was not curing because of poor quality of my eye drop. He advised me to take an iced theroms with me while buying it from the pharmacy and immediately put it in the thermos and immediately bring it home in that condition otherwise just in 5 minutes away from refrigeration its true effectiveness will finish.
Almost all confiscated items like food chemicals, food tin products, medicines, medicinal substances/materials for use in food processing remain under the sun/rain or under hot tined sheds facing rough conditions in our country.
Secondly, these confiscated items remain for years with such departments like banks, ports etc waiting importers to get these cleared. To get rid of these, these departments first keep sending reminder or reminder to importers of these items advising them to get these cleared. Then they restore to sending legal notices. After the failure these banks, railways, airlines, customs etc are bound to give public notices to importers and then go to courts where it take years and years in reaching to the auction stage. The point is after so many years what usefulness vitality of these items remain? For example the case of above âfood chemical or apple sidraâ. It was lying since years confiscated with Customs Multan. The laboratory report did not indicate how much its âfurtherâ usefulness period remains. May be we can say it was to remain further 4-6 months from the date of laboratory test. But since money plays a pivotal role hence the laboratory report only menionted it was good for health but how long it did not mention or may be it was beyond the scope of labatory. But the point is after its purchase from the auction when would the purchaser use it. May be he sells it in the market where it remains for sale in small quantities last next 2 years. Even if the end purchaser utilized this instantly, chances of which are very remote, then what would be the validity of the food prepared from this chemical.
I do remember about 8 years back addressing the Federation of Chamber of Commerce the then CBR Chief sated that the dried milk powder was lying in CBR warehouses since 10 years. Can a baby milk powder remain valid for 10 years?
My contention is under our present auction system what practically the nation gets in national treasure in comparison to the dangers to national life by using such food eatables which contain autioned substances. Why should for larger national interests such confiscated items not be burnt and destroyed rather than selling those in a price as the nation saw in the sale of Pakistan Steel.
I contiously struggled on this subject for about 7-8 years. I addressed many NGOs like Concerned Citizens Association, Consumers Proection Association, The Network, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan but for not to get any response. I addressed repeatedly dozens and dozens letters to editors but for this foolish subject no body had a space. If my memories are not misguiding me in this old and sick age with my very poorly operated eye vision, I also addressed this issue some years back as a Human Rights Petition to the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan but not to get any receipt let alone any processing reponse.
There is a very logical point namely âhow much is the natural life span for any edible oil in its raw or refined condition? Point is now the palm oil in question alledgedly is contaminated or healthy as one laboratory report said. The point is what is the natural validity life span of an edible oil. I have remained abroad. I have never seen any edible oil being sold in market having more than 18-20 months validity. So the point is the palm oil which is lying for the last 9 years as press report says what usefuelness for the human being it has. One laboratory tested it and the other will now test it as health minister says. Abut a decade or so back large quantity of gold was confiscated somewhere in NWFP. The newspapers splashed big news items about it. Three four days later this gold turned into silver âautomaticallyâ in customs wharehouse the newspapers also reported it. In case of above published âFOOD ITEMâ the sample for testing started journey from customs Multan to laboratory and during journey it automatically became âAPPLE SIDRAâ. So point is while traveling for second test the palm oil (palm oil, any palm oil) could turn out to be too young and health. It should not surprise any.