Following reports that consignments of important coconut oil containing the carcinogenic substance aflatoxin were released to the market, the public raised concerns, especially through social media, about these goods and the processes that are in place to monitor and evaluate products such as coconut oil. A statement made by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute Director General Dr. Siddhika Senaratne at an interview sparked further controversy, as she claimed that there are numerous other products with toxic substances and that if the names of these products are released, it would impact those businesses.
In light of this, The Morning spoke to members of the public to find out what impact these events had on what they consume, whether it is fair for such an institution to withhold such information from the public, whether institutions that are supposed to protect the public are performing their duties well and whether the media has informed the public well.
Wrong of SLSI to not reveal names
Tashani, 22, student, Ratmalana
Because of what we have been hearing about palm oil and coconut oil, we have switched to the use of sunflower oil at home. We don’t know if we’d continue to use it but we shifted just to be on the safe side. We stopped buying certain products, we stopped buying food and consumed food we made at home as we heard that certain other products also contain harmful substances. It was wrong of the SLSI to not reveal the names. Cancer cannot be cured so easily. These food items are consumed by many people. Yes, if businesses are affected people would lose jobs too, but this is about people’s lives too. Does she have no qualms about making such a statement? Something has to be done about that, as it was not at all a responsible thing to say. It is natural that such a statement would make anyone angry. Firing her from her job won’t solve the problem. I believe that the Government should do something more to ensure that these products are removed from the market even if it is at a loss. Government bodies that are there to ensure the safety of the consumer are not performing their duties properly. They keep their mouths shut. It seems as though such organisations have not intervened. They should intervene more. Though they report it, the media didn’t give information that was needed by the people for them to be careful. Most of the time, the media speaks for the side of the Government. The media has not done their job. Laws and institutions have to change. But we don’t think that these importers would be punished. They should at least be suspended for a while.
We don’t buy anything from Colombo
Viduja Dimantha, 19, after Advanced Levels, Borella
We get all our food from my aunt’s village and we don’t buy anything from Colombo. We don’t eat from shops very much. But it is difficult to avoid items like coconut oil and spices because we have to buy them from the shops. There was fear, but it’s not like we can avoid purchasing them. I think that names of the products and companies should be revealed because we need to know that information in order to avoid the consumption of products that are harmful for the body. This sort of a thing happens everywhere and people do things like this to continue their businesses. We don’t know what the Government is doing. There is a problem from both sides because on the one hand people will lose jobs but on the other hand, if businesses are allowed to continue doing this, it is bad for the consumer. When it comes to the bodies that are there to protect the consumer, I don’t think any change should happen in them because they work according to the orders they get, and only then will they get their salary. What should happen is that before a product is issued for the market, they should be tested properly. The media kept the public informed and released all the necessary information that I needed to know about this problem.
We know about this issue because SLSI did its job
Deepa, 46, housewife, Rajagiriya
Everybody consumes coconut oil, both the rich and the poor. Those who are rich can go for a substitute. But the poor cannot afford that. So this problem mostly affects the common man. As we go, this would not just be about coconut oil. We must have consumed carcinogens in other foods without knowing. Today, we are scared to buy goods from the market. It's a hard time for those running shops as well because it affects their business when people are scared to buy goods. If the names of the companies and products that contain toxins are revealed, employees of these businesses will face a lot of issues and it is not fair. It is best if the names are not publicly revealed but if a programme is arranged to deal with this problem in a more confidential manner. I think the consumer protection bodies and SLSI have done their job. Today, we know about this coconut oil because they did their job and checked these products. If they continue such checks in the future, we will get to know about more such products.
Consumers should be protected; not businesses
Jagath, 58, housekeeping manager, Kalubowila
There is a concern about what we buy and the public has become increasingly concerned. What we eat is not safe. These institutions should be more concerned about the items that they release to the market. It is not fair for the names of products with toxins to not be revealed. These institutions should protect the consumer, not businesses. No matter what government is in power, they should know this. These names should be revealed. I don’t think the bodies in charge of protecting the consumer are performing at least 50% of their duties. More than blaming these bodies, the Government should take steps to push them to take necessary action and not release these items to the market through Sri Lanka Customs. If there aren’t enough officers, more officers should be deployed for such. Whatever is done should be fair by both the businesses and the consumer. The business should not be allowed to fall, but they should then know to test these products before they are imported. I don’t know what mafia it is, but these tests are not properly done in Sri Lanka.
It is good that the media reported it, but I feel the information was not adequate. The media has been threatened and censored when it comes to reporting this. There is an impact in corporate advertising. Certain coconut oil brands are still being advertised in the media. Legal reforms should be in place and penalties should be made more severe for those who bring down such products.
Should consider private sector consultation
Niroshan, 36, audit assistant, Colombo 6
I didn’t follow this problem with coconut oil very thoroughly but I read through what was on the papers. As a family, we don’t consume coconut oil. I am not aware of what the SLSI Director General has said. Generally, I don’t think there is any security given for food. The media is informing the people but the news they are giving is complicated and enough evidence is not given. Different media organisations give different ideas and people don’t know what the correct information is and which information should be followed. I’m sure there are systems in place to ensure that safe products are released to the market. So they should be more active and those in charge of these institutions must act responsibly. Maybe the private sector should also be consulted in these matters.
Stopped eating coconut oil
Jayathissa, 54, city cleaner, Thambuththegama
I am concerned about what I eat and we have stopped eating coconut oil. I eat less oily food now. It is not right for the SLSI to not reveal the names of other toxic products because businesses would fall. People eat to live, not to die. But businesses are also giving people work, and that’s how they eat, so it’s not fair for businesses to fall either. When we are at home, we would make the oil and spices at home. But when we are in the city, we will have to buy them from a shop since we are boarded. The Government should ensure that the people are informed about what is harmful. I’m not saying that what the Government has done so far is inadequate, as they do their best.
Tashani, 22, student, Ratmalana
Because of what we have been hearing about palm oil and coconut oil, we have switched to the use of sunflower oil at home. We don’t know if we’d continue to use it but we shifted just to be on the safe side. We stopped buying certain products, we stopped buying food and consumed food we made at home as we heard that certain other products also contain harmful substances. It was wrong of the SLSI to not reveal the names. Cancer cannot be cured so easily. These food items are consumed by many people. Yes, if businesses are affected people would lose jobs too, but this is about people’s lives too. Does she have no qualms about making such a statement? Something has to be done about that, as it was not at all a responsible thing to say. It is natural that such a statement would make anyone angry. Firing her from her job won’t solve the problem. I believe that the Government should do something more to ensure that these products are removed from the market even if it is at a loss. Government bodies that are there to ensure the safety of the consumer are not performing their duties properly. They keep their mouths shut. It seems as though such organisations have not intervened. They should intervene more. Though they report it, the media didn’t give information that was needed by the people for them to be careful. Most of the time, the media speaks for the side of the Government. The media has not done their job. Laws and institutions have to change. But we don’t think that these importers would be punished. They should at least be suspended for a while.
We don’t buy anything from Colombo
Viduja Dimantha, 19, after Advanced Levels, Borella
We get all our food from my aunt’s village and we don’t buy anything from Colombo. We don’t eat from shops very much. But it is difficult to avoid items like coconut oil and spices because we have to buy them from the shops. There was fear, but it’s not like we can avoid purchasing them. I think that names of the products and companies should be revealed because we need to know that information in order to avoid the consumption of products that are harmful for the body. This sort of a thing happens everywhere and people do things like this to continue their businesses. We don’t know what the Government is doing. There is a problem from both sides because on the one hand people will lose jobs but on the other hand, if businesses are allowed to continue doing this, it is bad for the consumer. When it comes to the bodies that are there to protect the consumer, I don’t think any change should happen in them because they work according to the orders they get, and only then will they get their salary. What should happen is that before a product is issued for the market, they should be tested properly. The media kept the public informed and released all the necessary information that I needed to know about this problem.
We know about this issue because SLSI did its job
Deepa, 46, housewife, Rajagiriya
Everybody consumes coconut oil, both the rich and the poor. Those who are rich can go for a substitute. But the poor cannot afford that. So this problem mostly affects the common man. As we go, this would not just be about coconut oil. We must have consumed carcinogens in other foods without knowing. Today, we are scared to buy goods from the market. It's a hard time for those running shops as well because it affects their business when people are scared to buy goods. If the names of the companies and products that contain toxins are revealed, employees of these businesses will face a lot of issues and it is not fair. It is best if the names are not publicly revealed but if a programme is arranged to deal with this problem in a more confidential manner. I think the consumer protection bodies and SLSI have done their job. Today, we know about this coconut oil because they did their job and checked these products. If they continue such checks in the future, we will get to know about more such products.
Consumers should be protected; not businesses
Jagath, 58, housekeeping manager, Kalubowila
There is a concern about what we buy and the public has become increasingly concerned. What we eat is not safe. These institutions should be more concerned about the items that they release to the market. It is not fair for the names of products with toxins to not be revealed. These institutions should protect the consumer, not businesses. No matter what government is in power, they should know this. These names should be revealed. I don’t think the bodies in charge of protecting the consumer are performing at least 50% of their duties. More than blaming these bodies, the Government should take steps to push them to take necessary action and not release these items to the market through Sri Lanka Customs. If there aren’t enough officers, more officers should be deployed for such. Whatever is done should be fair by both the businesses and the consumer. The business should not be allowed to fall, but they should then know to test these products before they are imported. I don’t know what mafia it is, but these tests are not properly done in Sri Lanka.
It is good that the media reported it, but I feel the information was not adequate. The media has been threatened and censored when it comes to reporting this. There is an impact in corporate advertising. Certain coconut oil brands are still being advertised in the media. Legal reforms should be in place and penalties should be made more severe for those who bring down such products.
Should consider private sector consultation
Niroshan, 36, audit assistant, Colombo 6
I didn’t follow this problem with coconut oil very thoroughly but I read through what was on the papers. As a family, we don’t consume coconut oil. I am not aware of what the SLSI Director General has said. Generally, I don’t think there is any security given for food. The media is informing the people but the news they are giving is complicated and enough evidence is not given. Different media organisations give different ideas and people don’t know what the correct information is and which information should be followed. I’m sure there are systems in place to ensure that safe products are released to the market. So they should be more active and those in charge of these institutions must act responsibly. Maybe the private sector should also be consulted in these matters.
Stopped eating coconut oil
Jayathissa, 54, city cleaner, Thambuththegama
I am concerned about what I eat and we have stopped eating coconut oil. I eat less oily food now. It is not right for the SLSI to not reveal the names of other toxic products because businesses would fall. People eat to live, not to die. But businesses are also giving people work, and that’s how they eat, so it’s not fair for businesses to fall either. When we are at home, we would make the oil and spices at home. But when we are in the city, we will have to buy them from a shop since we are boarded. The Government should ensure that the people are informed about what is harmful. I’m not saying that what the Government has done so far is inadequate, as they do their best.