Around 200 factories in Gaibandha district are manufacturing ice-cream made of ingredients injurious to human health creating a serious health hazard, especially for the school-going children in the district.

The adulterated foods, which are very popular among the children, are being made of noxious chemicals like saccharine, fabric dye and flavour highly detrimental to human health.

“The adulterated foods have deleterious effect on child health as their immune systems cannot create resistance against diseases caused by the noxious chemicals used in the products,” Civil Surgeon Dr SMA Jalil said.

“The children may suffer from diseases like diarrhoea, jaundice and renal complication if they consume the unwholesome ice-cream and beverages rampantly being sold in front of schools in the district,” he also said.

“The foods are popular among the children because of its cheap rate and mouth-watering colour and flavour. The vendors from across the district purchase the products from the factories and sell those among the minor students in front of the schools,” teacher Ameena Begum said.

“The items are being manufactured and sold illegally as most of the factories do not have any licence from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). The foods also do not have any expiry date on labels,” she also said.

Recently Sadullapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Golam Mowla conducted a raid and fined one Mizanur Rahman Tk 30,000 for running a factory illegally at Bhatgram of the upazila.

The mobile court also seized a large amount of unwholesome ingredients like toxic chemicals and labels of Polar and Igloo brands of ice-cream.