An arrest warrant has been issued against Tasbih Hussain, chairman of bakery chain Sandra Foods International Limited, after laboratory tests confirmed that the company’s self-produced ghee was substandard and unsafe for consumption.
The warrant, issued on Monday, follows an inspection by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) officials and a case filed under the Safe Food Act, 2013.
Kamrul Hasan, a DSCC safe food inspector, lodged the complaint accusing Hussain of violating food safety regulations. Special Metropolitan Magistrate and Joint District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Sahara Bithi took cognisance of the case and issued the warrant.
The investigation began on 8 March when DSCC officials inspected Sandra Foods’ facility in South Banasree, Khilgaon.
According to the filing, officials collected 1,000 grams of ghee during the inspection for analysis. The sample, purchased for Tk1,400, was split into four portions for testing, with one kept for future comparison and the rest sent to the Modern Food Laboratory and Training Centre.
On 11 March, the DSCC’s Public Health Food Laboratory issued a test certificate confirming that the ghee failed to meet safety standards.
The analysis revealed several discrepancies, including a refractive index of 1.4570, which was above the acceptable range of 1.4524–1.4566, a saponification value of 209, which was below the required level of 218, and a high iodine value of 46.19, which was well above the standard range of 26–35.
Additionally, the milk fat content was found to be 96.52 per cent, below the required 99.70 per cent, while the peroxide value of 2.18 exceeded the permissible level of 0.8.
Despite previous verbal warnings to maintain product quality, the company failed to comply, according to the prosecution’s complaint.
Video and written statements were taken from the Sandra Foods outlet manager, Al Amin Hossain, during the inspection.
