GMOA slams Health Ministry

Despite assurances that the new batches of imported milk powder were found to be DCD- free, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday charged that the Health Ministry had failed to take action against the suppliers of imported milk powder brands which were earlier found to be contaminated with DCD.

Health Ministry had failed to take action against the suppliers

GMOA member Dr. Nalinda Herath said though four items in the first series of tests conducted by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) showed that there was DCD in some milk powder products, the ministry had failed to reprimand those responsible for the contamination of the items. A provision in Food Act No. 26 stipulates that the contamination of food products would lead to a mandatory prison term of at least six months and/or a fine.

“Though tests were conducted to detect the possible contamination of milk products, the ministry had not yet taken action against those responsible for the contamination that had earlier been found. This shows that the ministry isn’t taking this issue seriously enough,” Dr. Herath said.

He charged that the people would lose their faith in the Director General of the Food Advisory Committee due to his failure to further address the issue. In China when the contamination of milk foods was revealed, a death sentence and jail term had been imposed on those responsible for the contamination but Sri Lanka was yet to take action against those responsible for milk powder contamination, Dr. Herath said.

The GMOA yesterday released a report comprising ten proposals for better regulation of the food industry. The proposals include replacing powdered milk with liquid milk, establishing a food quality and safety unit, establishing specialist human nutrition services, upgrading laboratory facilities for food safety among others.