BSTI orders immediate withdrawal of 10 substandard food products

The products were ordered to be recalled after failing to meet required quality standards in BSTI laboratory tests.

The agency has also issued show-cause notices to the manufacturers, asking why their licences should not be cancelled for failing to maintain the required standards. 

BSTI has urged consumers to avoid purchasing the identified products in the interest of public safety.

As part of its routine surveillance programme, BSTI recently collected ghee, butter oil and spice products from various brands and tested them at its laboratories.

Laboratory tests found that, besides Baghabari Premium Ghee produced by Baghabari Premium Ghee Company, ghee marketed under the Arun Baghabari, New Radhuni and City brands, as well as Elders-brand butter oil, failed to meet national and international standards.

The tests found that palm olein and vegetable fat had been used instead of genuine milk fat in the ghee and butter oil. Significant deviations were also detected in several key chemical parameters, including refractive index, iodine value and saponification value.

Meanwhile, specific batches of Bombay Sweets and Co Ltd's duck meat spice, tehari spice, kala bhuna spice, beef spice and fish spice failed BSTI standards after excessive levels of total ash and salt were detected.

BSTI Director General Kazi Imdadul Haque said maintaining product quality is both a legal and ethical responsibility of manufacturers, adding that the agency would continue strict monitoring to ensure compliance with quality standards.

He urged consumers to check the BSTI certification mark, expiry date and ingredient information before purchasing products.