Oil with excess levels of Aflatoxin to be banned

COLOMBO (News1st): Samples of coconut oil in which the levels of Aflatoxin containing 30 parts per billion will not be sold in the market, a senior official has said. "...the aflatoxin levels in all 55 samples of coconut oil did not exceed the maximum specified level of 30 parts per billion," Ashoka Rajamanthri, the Coconut Development Authority's assistant director said. At least 55 oil samples from the market had been obtained across the country after details came to light that carcinogenic oil had been imported to the country. Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, a government lawmaker pointed out that people's lives are at risk as a result of releasing substandard products to the market. Janaka Thissakuttiarachchi, another government parliamentarian insisted that the suspects involved in importing carcinogenic coconut oil must be punished. "If the death penalty is not implemented, then death sentences must be handed out. Or else life imprisonment terms must be handed out to them," he said. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna parliamentarian stressed the any government parliamentarian is not linked to the issue.