Food is one of the most basic necessities of human life, yet in Bangladesh it has increasingly become a source of concern and uncertainty. Food crime-including adulteration, contamination, counterfeiting, mislabeling, and the use of unauthorized chemicals-has emerged as a serious challenge to public health and consumer protection. While Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in food production and agricultural development over the past decades, the safety and integrity of its food supply chain continue to face significant threats from unethical practices driven by profit.
Food crime is not merely a regulatory issue; it is a matter of public health, economic stability, and social trust. Unsafe food products can harm consumers, undermine confidence in local markets, and damage the reputation of responsible businesses. As Bangladesh aspires to strengthen its food industry and expand exports, ensuring food safety has become more important than ever.
Recent statistics highlight the scale of the problem. According to the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), 571 out of 1,713 food samples tested during the fiscal year 2024-25 were found to be unsafe because of adulteration, contamination, or inadequate nutritional quality. This means that nearly one-third of tested products failed to meet safety standards. Such findings demonstrate that food crime remains widespread despite ongoing enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns.
Food adulteration occurs in many forms across the country. Fruits are often treated with harmful chemicals to accelerate ripening and improve appearance. Fish, meat, and other perishable products may be preserved with formalin or unauthorized substances to extend shelf life. Milk is frequently diluted with water or mixed with starch and chemical additives to increase volume and profit. Studies conducted in different regions of Bangladesh have identified alarming levels of adulterants in dairy products, raising serious concerns about food quality and consumer safety.
The health consequences of these practices can be devastating. Consumption of adulterated or contaminated food may contribute to foodborne illnesses, digestive disorders, liver and kidney damage, cancer, and developmental problems in children. Harmful preservatives, excessive pesticide residues, bacterial contamination, and toxic food additives pose long-term health risks that often remain undetected until significant damage has occurred. Many consumers unknowingly expose themselves and their families to these dangers through everyday food purchases.
One of the key reasons food crime remains difficult to control is the complexity of the food supply chain. Food products pass through multiple stages-from farms and processing facilities to transporters, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. At each stage there is a possibility of contamination, substitution, or fraud. Weak monitoring systems and limited traceability make it difficult to identify offenders quickly, allowing dishonest actors to exploit gaps in regulation and enforcement.
To address these challenges, the government has established several regulatory institutions. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, operating under the Food Safety Act 2013, is responsible for overseeing food safety across the country. The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) also plays a crucial role in enforcing product standards, conducting inspections, and carrying out anti-adulteration drives. Mobile court operations and seasonal enforcement campaigns have helped raise public awareness and penalize violators.
Consumer awareness remains another major challenge. Many people are unaware of their rights as consumers or lack knowledge about identifying unsafe food products. Limited public understanding of food safety issues often allows fraudulent practices to continue unchecked. Strengthening consumer education programs can empower citizens to make informed choices, report violations, and demand greater accountability from producers and retailers.
Ultimately, tackling food crime requires a collective effort involving government agencies, businesses, researchers, media organizations, and consumers. Bangladesh has already demonstrated its ability to achieve impressive gains in food production. The next challenge is ensuring that the food reaching consumers is safe, authentic, and trustworthy. Food crime is more than an act of deception-it is a direct threat to public health and social confidence. The fact that nearly one-third of tested food samples failed safety standards should serve as a wake-up call. A safer food future depends not only on producing enough food but also on ensuring that every meal is free from fraud, contamination, and harm.
The writer is Chief Executive Officer, Nutrition For Change
