AGARTALA, August 2 (TIWN):With the antibiotic resistance cases like malaria and other, the demand for enforcing food safety regulation and quality control measures has gained ground in Tripura too.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded an immediate ban on antibiotic use as growth promoters and for prevention purpose in the poultry industry today followed by the study report of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Besides, toxic element added toys and electronic items, unregulated Tripura markets are now flooded with food items including vegetables like carrots. 

Most of these items are being entered into Tripura via neighbouring states without any quality check that posed a serious threat to public health.  

CSE study claimed overuse of antibiotics in chicken production and its likely contribution to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in humans in India; and it recommended reviewing the regulatory gaps by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and stronger surveillance by state food commissioners.

It suggested allowing antibiotic only to treat sick birds, ban on use of antibiotics in the industry which are critical for humans, and the need to regulate availability of antibiotics and feed supplements. 

“The problem was long suspected by public health experts; our study has provided evidence of the strong linkage between antibiotic resistance and antibiotic misuse in food-producing animals such as chicken,” says Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.

The Bureau of Indian Standards’ poultry feed specifications (1374:2007) recommends not using antibiotics as growth promoters in feed – but these standards are not mandatory. Similarly, the Food Safety and Standards (contaminants, toxins and residues) Regulations, 2011 does not apply to the poultry industry; it has set maximum residue limits on four antibiotics for sea foods.

Fish, eggs, vegetables and other edible items from Bangladesh, China and Myanmar have been catering the demands of Tripura for past few years and recently the flow of supply is extensively increased across the state without any test.

Irregulated use of pesticide and fertilizers in farm products and harvesting of produces with residual effect of the chemicals immediately after the use caused a concern for the medical and scientific fraternity of the state.

Medical community opined that large scale cancer, gastro-entities and other organ infected diseases have been spreading in the state in rapid way due to consumption of chemical residual through food items but the issue yet to get much space for action in Tripura administration.

Besides, farm products, chemical are used for growth of fish and chickens, ripping of fruits including banana and largely in bakery items and sweets by a section of businessmen but the administration did not pay much attention to the menace so far that enraged the sensitive dwellers of the state.