Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has ordered the withdrawal of 10 products, including Bombay Sweets spices and Baghbari ghee, after laboratory tests found they failed to meet Bangladesh Standards. BSTI also issued show-cause notices asking why the licences granted for the products should not be cancelled and advised consumers not to buy the items.

Five Bombay Sweets & Co. Limited spice products failed tests because total ash and salt levels exceeded prescribed limits. They include duck meat spice, tehari spice, kala bhuna spice, beef spice and fish spice. BSTI said Baghbari-branded ghee was marketed as ghee although testing found no milk fat and indicated it was made with palm olein and vanaspati.

Other failed products included Arunn Baghbari, New Radhuni and City branded ghee, as well as Elders butter oil. BSTI said refractive index, iodine value, saponification value and Polenske value were outside limits in these products. Director General Kazi Imdadul Haque said licensed companies have legal and ethical duties to maintain quality, while consumers should check BSTI marks, licence numbers, dates and ingredients before buying.