Dhaka University researchers once again found traces of antibiotics in 10 samples of pasteurised and unpasteurised milk produced by several companies.
Ten samples — seven pasteurised and three unpasteurised — were again tested last week, said a press release signed by ABM Faroque, immediate past director of Dhaka University's Biomedical Research Centre.
Traces of four antibiotics — Oxytetracycline, Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Levofloxacin— were found in the milks in the second test, said the release.
Pasteurised products of Pran, Milk Vita, Igloo, Aarong, and Farm Fresh which were tested earlier were against tested, the statement released on Saturday said.
New tests found four antibiotics in three samples, three antibiotics in six samples and two in one samples.
‘We'll try to publish results of these tests and others in future for the sake of the people,’ ABM Faruque said.
He requested the authorities concerned to run regular tests on the products and improve their qualities.
‘We had earlier requested the companies and government agencies concerned such as Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute, Bangladesh Safe Food Authority, Institute of Public Health to conduct tests on presence of antibiotics. We also requested to carry out two more tests on antibiotics and detergents along with the nines tests done under the 18-year old standard of BSTI to test milk, ABM Faroque said.
On June 25, researchers announced finding traces of detergent and antibiotics in samples of pasteurised and unpasteurised milk of Pran, MilK Vita, Igloo, Aarong, and Farm Fresh.
All seven samples of pasteurised milk contained antibiotics used to treat humans, Faroque had said. Detergent was detected in three samples of pasteurised and an unpasteurised one.
Following the releases of the research findings, an additional secretary of fisheries and livestock ministry Kazi Wasi Uddin on July 9 threatened legal action against researchers who claimed to have found antibiotics in pasteurised milk of different brands.
