Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-As rice prices go sky high due to a shortage, studies reveal that rice imported from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh may contain high concentrations of Arsenic.
Emeritus Prof Upali Samarajeewa, speaking at the Conference on ‘Role of Agriculture in Food Sovereignty and Poverty Eradication’ recently said, Bangladeshi rice had one of the highest concentrations of Arsenic.
The international expert on food analysis and food safety working for UNIDO however, said the government had no mechanism in place to ensure that imported rice was safe for human consumption, a fact confirmed by State owned Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), a government run testing facility.
However, ITI has the necessary testing apparatus to conduct such test for arsenic, reports ceylontoday.
World Health Organization (WHO) prescribes 200kg, to be the acceptable level of arsenic in rice.
Bangladeshi rice however has been recorded to contain an average 340kg of arsenic.
Meanwhile, rice in Sri Lanka recorded arsenic levels to be between 34kg.
“In Bangladesh skin lesions are quite common and that is a symptom of arsenic in the body. That country has the dubious distinction of having issues of arsenic in its rice. Thus, I do not understand why the government would import rice from such a country”, said Samarajeewa.
He asked whether the government would test and monitor the rice imports for arsenic. “How do we know that the rice we import is safe?” he questioned.
ITI Technical Services Division Additional Director A. S. Pannila speaking to Ceylon Today said they would only test rice samples if only a request was made.
He added that no such request had been made so far.
BBN/ANS-27Sept14-7:00pm (BST)
