The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has ordered the immediate withdrawal of eight products from the market after laboratory tests found them below the required quality standards.
The national standards regulator said the products, manufactured by four companies, were found to contain excessive preservatives, harmful microorganisms or other quality-related defects in violation of Bangladesh standards.
In a press release issued on Monday, BSTI said Fresh Garden Agro Resources’ mango pickle (Batch No. FGMP200G0426) contained preservatives above the permissible limit.
A Bellisimo Rotondo Hazelnut Coated Chocolate ice cream (Batch No. 26050101A), produced by Kazi Food Industries Ltd, was found to have total milk solid non-fat content exceeding the level set by the Bangladesh Standard.
BSTI also detected harmful microorganisms in several cosmetic products manufactured by Olive Bangladesh Ltd.
The affected products include Labonno Milk Skin Lotion (Batch No. 2961104A), Labonno Aloe Vera Skin Lotion (Batch No. 2961204A), Olive and Labonno Facewash Moringa+Matcha Foaming Milk (Batch No. 2951404A), Olive and Labonno Facewash Tulsi (Batch No. 2951204A), and Labonno Aloe Vera Shampoo (Batch No. 2921304A).
The regulator also found that Deco Foods Ltd’s Deco Fruit Funda Mango and Orange flavoured soft drink powders (Batch No. 133) contained lower-than-required levels of Vitamin C.
BSTI said it has issued rejection notices to the companies concerned and instructed them to stop production, sales and distribution of the listed products until their licences are renewed or receive fresh approval.
The companies have also been directed to remove the products immediately from distributors, dealers, retailers and markets nationwide in the interest of consumer safety.
BSTI said it will monitor compliance with the directive and warned that legal action will be taken against companies that fail to follow the order.
The agency reiterated that ensuring product quality according to national standards is a legal responsibility of all licensed manufacturers and said it will take administrative and legal measures against violations.
BSTI Director General Kazi Emdadul Hoque said the organisation remains committed to ensuring consumers have access to safe and quality products, describing quality goods as a basic consumer right.
He advised consumers to check the BSTI certification mark, licence number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and other relevant details before purchasing products.
The BSTI chief also urged consumers to report complaints involving poor quality, adulteration, fraud or misuse of the BSTI certification mark.
