POBNEWS24, Dhaka May 19, 2024 : The court of Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant against the owners of the company for allegedly selling five types of electrolyte drinks in the Bangladeshi market without approval. After the arrest warrant was issued, the question arose, how the unauthorized electrolyte drinks have been sold in the market for almost three years without permission?
The safe food authority says that according to the law of Bangladesh, the production of any product will start after obtaining the license. But these companies have started marketing without any permission. At the same time, they are also campaigning by advertising for the sale of those products.
Kamrul Hasan, the safe food inspector of Dhaka South City Corporation, filed a case in the pure food court on May 14 against the institutions for deceiving consumers with false information and selling products without approval.
Those electrolyte drinks are SMC Plus by ACME and SMC Company, Active by PRAN, Bruvana by Bruvana Beverage Limited, Recharge by Deshbandhu and Agami Company and Turbo by Akiz.
After the hearing, the Pure Food Court issued arrest warrants against the owners and officials of the five industrial groups.
Food Inspector Mr. Hasan told this correspondent that, “It is not clear from what is written on them whether it is a drink or a medicinal product. Those companies have marketed these products without taking approval from BSTI or drug administration. Which also has various health risks”.
However, the institutions say that they have applied for approval but have not received a response.
So there is no clear answer from the organizations about how to produce and market products without approval.
Ilyach Mridha, Managing director of Pran Group, told this correspondent that, “We could not get permission for this electrolyte product as there is no specific criteria. That’s why we wrote a letter to BSTI last January to formulate the product standards.
BSTI Deputy Director Md. Riazul Haque told this correspondent, ‘Electrolyte drinks are not covered under the compulsory product. For this reason we cannot give approval”.
Dr. Khan Abul Kalam Dhaka Medical College Hospital. told this correspondent, “Those who will manufacture and market the electrolyte solutions in Bangladesh, it is necessary to test the level of electrolyte in the laboratory and then give a license.”
He questioned why and how these products came to the market without approval.
National team cricketer Tamim Iqbal has also participated in the advertisement of the product.
That question about authorization
Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution or BSTI supervises and licenses products for quality and consumer goods such as food, agricultural products, textiles, chemicals and electrical technology. So the most important thing to do before marketing the product is to get approval from BSTI.
A manufacturer, packer or importer must obtain a BSTI Certification Marks (CM) license for approval of marketed products, whether mandatory or voluntary.
After this decision of the court against the five companies, those companies claimed that they could not even try to get permission for such drinks.
SMC Group was the first to bring electrolyte drinks to the market. A senior official of the organization told this correspondent that, “SMC has not knowingly committed any mistake. BSTI does not have the option of product approval, how do we get approval”?
He says, “When we tried for approval. Then they tell us you launch, when the criteria for this category is created, they will approve”.
Similarly, Pran Group has marketed the electrolyte drink in the Bangladeshi market. One of the Pran group is the court issued arrest warrants against the executives of the five company owners of electrolyte drinks without authorization.
Mr. Mridha Managing Director of Pran. told this correspondent, “Products that do not have BSTI standards or guidelines do not require approval to be marketed. Those that have set standards, require approval to market, we don’t have approval.”
He said they did not need to approve it due to lack of criteria.
Deputy Director of BSTI Mr. Haque told this correspondent, “Since it is not a standard for this product in our country, we cannot give a license for that reason. But we are thinking that we will make a standard soon”.
What is the cause of food authority lawsuits?
BSTI says that since this product is new in the market, they have not yet defined the criteria for this product. But soon they announced that they will start working on its quality.
Inspector Kamrul Hasan of Safe Food Authority filed a case against seven companies that brought electrolyte drinks to the market on May 14 for marketing products without approval.
After the hearing, the pure food court issued an arrest warrant against the owner of those five establishments.
Food Inspector Mr. Hasan told this correspondent, “Even the drug administration cannot tell whether these are drugs or drinks. They are also being advertised with great fanfare. Which is an offense under the Safe Food Act. The companies did not listen to us even when we asked them to stop advertising.”
But the companies say that there are such drinks in different countries of the world. No drug approval is required for such drinks.
In such a situation, the court asked to take arrest warrant against the owners of those companies, but did not give any decision about the product not being in the market. That is why these products are still being sold in the market.
Pran Group Managing Director Mr. Mridha told this correspondent, “We are preparing to appeal it. However, the court has not yet said that these products cannot be sold. So it is still being sold in the market. Later, I will follow the decision of the court.
What are electrolyte drinks?
An electrolyte is a mineral or electrically charged substance. They are found in blood, tissues, organs and other body fluids. Sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride, phosphate and magnesium are all electrolytes.
Doctors and nutritionists say that electrolytes perform various important functions in the body. They help in maintaining the balance of water content in the body.
Sudden problems like diarrhea and vomiting, lack of water in the body. To get rid of dehydration, doctors recommend drinking electrolyte drinks.
Dr. Salehuddin Mahmood Tushar sports medicine specialist. “Electrolyte drinks are available all over the world,” told this correspondent. It is more popular as a sports drink. This was not the case in our country before. But now it is available.”
This doctor says that the electrolyte drink contains the ingredients to compensate for the salt that is released from our body when we sweat a lot. It is essential for those who work out, or play sports.
According to nutritionists, electrolytes help maintain the pH level of the human body and deliver nutrients in and out of cells. It helps muscles, nerves and other organs to function properly.
Nutritionist Samia Tasnim told this correspondent that electrolyte drinks can be beneficial in certain situations. For example, it works when the body is affected due to long-term exercise, physical exertion or excessive sweating or diarrhea.
What are the health risks of electrolyte drinks?
Doctors and nutritionists say that electrolyte drinks can be effective if there is a lot of sweat or salt is released from the body due to physical exertion, exercise or any other reason.
If one is drinking enough water and the urine is normal, regular electrolyte drinks are not necessary, they say. However, if you lose more fluid than the amount of water you take in and become dehydrated, you will lose electrolytes.
Dr. Kalam told this correspondent, “If more sweat is released from the body, if sodium is reduced, the brain is damaged. Low potassium causes heart damage. Such a drink can be drunk when working in hot weather will make you sweat”.
Even three years ago, this type of electrolyte drink was not available in Bangladesh. In 2021, this electrolyte drink first started coming to the market.
Doctors say that many people are confusing it with normal energy drinks after it hit the market. Everyone is eating them as they wish. They think it can be a health risk.
Dr. Tushar sports medicine specialist. told this correspondent, “Energy drinks can be dangerous in excess, so electrolyte drinks are even more dangerous. Because, it also plays a role in high blood pressure”.
This doctor says, “Electrolyte imbalance in the body can be dangerous for health. That is why we also prohibit overdubbing”.
Nutritionists say that such water contains too much sodium and potassium. Due to which excessive or unnecessary consumption of such drinks can lead to high blood pressure and kidney disease.
Nutritionist Miss Tasnim told this correspondent, “Electrolyte drinks can lead to hyperkalemia. This happens when there is too much potassium in the body, which can be dangerous for the heart as well”.
As a result, doctors and nutritionists say that if these drinks are drunk at will without the advice of a doctor, instead of being beneficial for health, it can become dangerous.
