Manufacturers urged to supply quality food in Ramadan

The Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI) has urged 20 conglomerates to manufacture and market quality food items during the upcoming Ramadan.

A press release from the Ministry of Industries on Sunday said letters have been sent to the manufactures from the institute on this issue. 

The 20 manufacturers have fast moving food items widely consumed during sahur (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (evening meal) during Ramadan.

The BSTI will also write to other manufacturers with the same request, said the press release.   

According to the Standards & Testing Institution, the demand for 181 products shoots up in the holy month of Ramadan. The items include mineral water, soft-drinks powder, fruit syrup, fruit juice, carbonated beverage, ghee, vermicelli, noodles, pasteurised milk, ice-cream, fortified soybean and sunflower oil.

Manufacturers who have received the lettesr are — PRAN Foods Ltd, Shabnam Vegetable Oil Ltd, Akij Foods and Beverage Ltd, Transcom Beverage Ltd, Super Oil Refinery Ltd, City Group, Brac Dairy and Food Project, Tanveer Foods Ltd, Bangladesh Milk Producer's Cooperative Union Ltd, Bangladesh Edible Oil Ltd, New Zealand Dairy ltd, ACI Group, Nestle Bangladesh, Bashundhara Multi Food and Beverage Ltd, Abul Khayer Group, Square Foods Ltd, Bangladesh Super Shop Owners Association, BD Foods Ltd, Swiss Bakery And Sajib Corporation.

According to the Bangladesh Standard (BDS), products must achieve a Certification of Marks (CM) license from the BSTI. However, unscrupulous businessmen flood the market with substandard items without the CM license, exploiting the soared demand. 

Manufacturing, distributing and marketing of products without a CM license is a punishable offense as per the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution Act-2018, said the press release.  

The BSTI will conduct regular drives, hold mobile courts and ramp up surveillance to ensure food quality throughout Ramadan, added the media release.