Bombay Sweets spices, 10 more products ordered to withdraw from market

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the country’s standards-setting and regulatory agency, has ordered the withdrawal of 10 products from the market, including spices produced by Bombay Sweets and ghee sold under the Baghabari brand.

BSTI disclosed the information in a press release issued to the media on Wednesday (26 August).

According to the release, laboratory tests found that the products failed to meet the standards prescribed under Bangladesh Standards (BDS).

The products include Bombay Sweets & Co Ltd’s curry powder, duck meat spice mix, tehari spice mix, kala bhuna spice mix, beef spice mix and fish spice mix; Baghabari Premium Ghee Company’s ‘Baghabari’ brand ghee; Kishoreganj Food Products’ ‘Arun Baghabari’ brand ghee; M/S Mamun Food Product’s ‘New Radhuni’ brand ghee; M/S Mamun Food Product’s ‘City’ brand ghee; and Elders Food Products and Packaging Industries’ ‘Elders’ brand butter oil.

BSTI has also issued show-cause notices asking why the licences issued by the institution for these products should not be cancelled.

As the products were found to be substandard in laboratory tests, BSTI advised consumers to refrain from purchasing them.

Recently, as part of its regular surveillance activities, BSTI collected products from various companies from the market and tested them at its state-of-the-art laboratories meeting international standards.

The tests found that a number of products met the required standards. However, some brands of ghee, butter oil and spices failed the tests after being found to be substandard.

Laboratory tests found that Baghabari ‘ghee’ contained no actual ghee (milk fat). Instead, it was made from palm olein and vanaspati and marketed as ghee. Bombay Sweets’ spices were also found to be below Bangladesh Standards (BDS) in several parameters.

BSTI Director General (Secretary) Kazi Imdadul Haque said maintaining product quality in accordance with national standards is the legal and ethical responsibility of every licensed establishment.

“If any establishment fails to fulfil this responsibility, BSTI is committed to taking necessary legal action,” he said.

He added that alongside issuing quality certification, BSTI has continued strict surveillance to prevent counterfeit and adulterated products.

The BSTI director general advised consumers to check the BSTI certification mark, licence number, production date, expiry date, product ingredients and other necessary information before purchasing any product.

He also urged consumers to promptly report complaints regarding product quality, adulteration, fraud or misuse of the BSTI certification mark by calling the BSTI hotline at 16119 or emailing dg@bsti.gov.bd.