DHAKA 5 June 2009– High energy biscuits manufactured for WFP in Bangladesh are completely safe for consumption, according to initial laboratory tests carried out by the Institute of Food Science and Technology, part of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
WFP would continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh and other partners as part of efforts to establish the cause of the reported illnesses
John Aylieff, WFP Bangladesh Representative
The laboratory report received by WFP yesterday stated that there were no pathogenic (harmful) bacteria detected in the biscuit samples. The levels of vitamin A and iron were found to be higher than the levels stipulated by WFP in its contract with biscuit-making factories in Bangladesh, but were still well below those that can potentially cause side effects.
Tests results were conducted on batches of high energy biscuits distributed to schools in Khagrachari districts on June 1 as part of WFP’s school feeding programme.
WFP experts at the organisation’s Rome headquarters have therefore concluded that there is nothing to suggest that the fortified biscuits could have been harmful for school-age children.
WFP Bangladesh Representative John Aylieff said “WFP would continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh and other partners as part of efforts to establish the cause of the reported illnesses”.
