Rotten chillies openly sold at Panchagarh market, consumers at health risk

Before dawn, the chilli market is set up — piles of good-quality dry chillies on one side and stacks of rotten ones on the other. As light breaks, the Kaliganj market in Panchagarh's Boda upazila bustles with buyers and sellers. Traders from various districts buy dry chillies, and by 9am, most of the business is done. The concern is that rotten dry chillies are openly sold here with significant demand, putting consumers at risk.

Traders said around 10-12 trucks of chillies, worth Tk 20-30 lakh per truck, are traded daily at Kaliganj. Buyers come from Bogura, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Dinajpur, Gaibandha and elsewhere.

Chilli trader Motiar Rahman said Kaliganj market operates twice a week (Sunday and Thursday). Sales have dropped recently due to fluctuating prices.

Not just good-quality chillies, rotten dry chillies are traded in almost all markets in the district. A section of traders buys thousands of kilograms at low prices, which go to chilli powder factories where harmful colours are mixed before packaging, according to sources.

A visit to the market on Sunday morning showed that rotten chilli trading has been going on for years. Demand remains high, keeping prices relatively high — currently Tk 6,000-7,500 per maund, compared to Tk 13,000-14,000 for high-quality local chillies. The price gap drives traders to buy rotten chillies cheaply, which are later powdered and sold.

Dr Sadia Afrin of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital said fungi and decomposition toxins mix into powder made from rotten chillies. Using industrial colours instead of food-grade ones increases health risks, including liver and stomach damage, digestive issues and even long-term cancer risks.

Sources allege that authorities occasionally raid powder factories but do not monitor rotten chilli trading at markets. The district food safety officer could not be reached, and the assistant director of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department's Panchagarh office was also unavailable.

Traders at Kaliganj market said the solution is to stop rotten chilli sales at the source, as factory raids alone are ineffective.

When contacted, Boda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rabiul Islam told Views Bangladesh that he would look into the matter and take necessary action.