Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution has ordered the withdrawal of 10 substandard products, including Bombay Sweets spices and Baghabari ghee, from the market after laboratory tests found them failing to meet national standards.

BSTI also issued show-cause notices to the relevant institutions over their failure to maintain product quality, asking why their licences should not be cancelled.

The regulator said 10 products had failed quality checks and advised consumers not to buy them.

Tests showed that Baghabari brand ghee lacked the required milk fat and had instead been marketed as ghee using palm olein and vanaspati.

Specific batches of six Bombay Sweets spice products — curry powder, duck meat masala, tehari masala, kala bhuna masala, beef masala and fish masala — failed because their total ash and salt levels exceeded permitted limits, BSTI said.

Other products that fell short of national standards included Arun Baghabari ghee made by Kishoreganj Food Products, New Radhuni ghee from Messrs Mamun Food Product, City brand ghee and Elders brand butter oil from Elders Food Products and Packaging Industries.

BSTI said laboratory analysis found the refractive index, iodine value, saponification value and Polenske value of the products outside allowed limits.

BSTI Director General Kazi Imdadul Hoque said every licensed producer had a legal and ethical responsibility to maintain quality in line with national standards. “BSTI is determined to take necessary legal action against any establishment that fails in this duty,” he said.

He said the regulator was continuing strict surveillance alongside product certification to prevent counterfeit and adulterated goods.

Hoque urged consumers to check the BSTI mark, licence number, production and expiry dates and product ingredients before purchase.