Staff Reporter:

PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), a research and advocacy organisation, has said while access to safe food is a fundamental right, the sale of bulk edible oil in drums has become a significant threat to public health.

In a statement on Saturday, the organisation expressed their concern over the issue marking the National Food Safety Day 2025 set to be observed on Sunday.

This year’s theme is “Khaddo hok nirapod, sustho thakuk jonogon( Let food be safe, let people stay healthy)”.

“Marketing edible oil without Vitamin ‘A’ fortification is a punishable offense according to the law. However, most of the edible oil in the drum do not contain vitamin ‘A’ or moderate levels,” it added.

The repeated use of plastic drums can lead to edible oil contamination.

Besides, bulk edible oil sold in drums has high chances of adulteration, said the statement.

The rampant sale of loose edible oil marketed in drums works as an impediment to the proper implementation of 2013 Vitamin ‘A’ Fortification in Edible Oil Act.

According to National Micronutrient Survey 2011-12, 20.5 percent of children aged 06-59 months and 5.4 percent of women aged 15-49 years old (excluding pregnant or lactating) are suffering from Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency.

According to a research conducted by icddr,b in 2017, 65% of the total edible oil sold in Bangladesh is marketed in drums, of which, 59% does not contain Vitamin ‘A’ and 34% is poorly Vitamin ‘A’-fortified.

“Only 7% of the bulk oil sold in drums meets the standard as per the law. These drums do not contain any label or required information about the source, which compromises the traceability of the oil suppliers and makes it impossible to identify the perpetrators.”

ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, said, “Edible oil is a food product, and it is the responsibility of all concerned, including the government, to ensure it reaches consumers safely.”

The marketing of edible oil in drums must be stopped immediately and people should be made aware of the associated dangers, it added.