Proper labelling of acids must to save lives

Islamabad

When Naeema was presented with icy cold water on her arrival at an event, that was all she wanted at that time. Neither she nor the person presenting the water knew that it was actually the battery water. She hurriedly drank half the glass before she realized the difference of taste. Naeema ended up in the hospital where she was treated for seven days to recover from the effect of the acid content that makes part of the battery water.

The hosts investigated the matter and found out that their house cleaner confused the battery water bottle with normal mineral water bottle because of almost the same shape and blue tag on it. She put that bottle in the fridge among other water bottles by mistake. A little carelessness on the part of domestic worker and the battery water company could have taken the life of Naeema if she was not given the medical treatment in time.

Due to loadshedding such bottles are present in almost every household and a new brand with blue label and bigger bottle size make that brand resemble the mineral water. For those who cannot read the label such as domestic workers and children, it is hard to differentiate between the two.

Talking to ‘The News’, Nadeem Iqbal, Executive Coordinator for The Network, an organisation working on consumer rights, also confirmed the presence of such brand with blue label in the market. He said that it is a new brand and government can control the problem by issuing directives for changing the label and shape of the bottle.

Nadeem said that labelling of such products with proper precautions, is a major issue. He gave example of the acid used for cleaning purposes in almost every household. “There are some branded acids with labelling and change of colour so that consumer can differentiate between water or any other drink and the acid but in lower middle class or poor families, people prefer to use non-branded acid to save money,” said Nadeem.

He said that government can keep check on branded acid makers for proper labelling but non-branded acids are manufactured in houses with no labelling or change of colour. “We have received reports of the cases of acid drinking from low income communities because of the same reason,” he said.

To cater to the uneducated population, Nadeem advised the manufacturers to use signs to indicate danger attached with the product. “It must be obligatory for such brands to make these precautions part of their advertisement as well so that people become aware of the danger attached to the product.

He said that sometimes accidents happen when users ignore the precautions mentioned on the bottle. “There are many accidents in which women used insect spray in the kitchen near a burning stove and caught fire. There are some reported deaths as a result of this life threatening carelessness. Though it is written clearly on the bottles that these sprays are highly inflammable,” he said.

Similarly, the scribe witnessed a meat seller spraying the insecticide on meat to get rid of flies without realizing that it can poison the meat. He said that he regularly uses spray for this purpose. “We need extensive consumer education for protection of the life and rights of consumers,” said Nadeem.