Two varities of Margarines and number of Biscuits in the local market are identified as containing a harmful anti oxident E 319 which is harmful for Infants and Children under 3 years according to the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Public Health Officers Association L.G Rohana.Although a warning label stating the product is harmful for children under 3 years should be in the carton or pack when selling food items which contain the above anti oxident is necessary, those producers have violated the procedure by not carrying such a label in their products Mr.Rohana has stressed.
It has been reported that due to not carrying a warning label infants and children too are consuming these Margarines and Biscuits which may have cause neuro and bladder related illneses among them.
Taking view on this situation the Public Health Officers Association has decided to take a legal action against these producers who violated the procedure by not carrying a warning label on their food products containing E 319 he added.Meanwhile Public Health Officers under the court rule given by the Rural Magistrate Court few days back have already launched an islandwide inspection on a locally made Margerine which has idenfied as selling without such warning label .
All these Food Products under fire are received the approval from the authorities to sell in local markets according to sources.When contacted a higher official of the Ministry Of Health has said that they will decide the future course of action against these food manufacturers after receiving the legal docuement related to the court order given against locally made Margarine.