Call to promote food safety

It is time to promote food safety, as increasing number of people have been suffering from various diseases in recent time due to widespread use of harmful chemicals in foods, speakers at a roundtable said yesterday.

They said chemicals and toxicity in foods such as the recent melamine contamination issue has once again reminded us that food safety has been a generally overlooked issue in the country.

The roundtable titled 'Food safety for Bangladesh' was organised by the Department of Applied Dietetics and Food Technology (ADFT) of Daffodil International University (DIU) at Biam auditorium in the city.

Highlighting the issue of general food safety, the speakers said diseases such as cancer, ulcer, diabetes, liver and skin problems are on the rise because of toxic contamination in foods.

They called on the government to step up its monitoring and supervision on the importers and exporters of food items, and demanded that all food production facilities must have food technologists.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) should play a bigger role in this regard, they added.

"The authorities should guarantee that foods or raw materials for food items are free from chemicals, biological contamination and toxins," said Dr KM Formuzul Haque, former director of Bangladesh Institute of Food Science and Technology (BCSIR).

"The government should also ensure strict supervision and monitoring of food quality and safety programmes," he said.

According to data presented in the roundtable, 85 percent of consumers understand the importance of washing hands before handling foods. However, only 65 percent of them tend to follow the procedure.

Speaking as the chief guest, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said his ministry is taking initiatives to develop BSTI as a modern organisation.

The BSTI has been conducting regular drives against food adulteration since the month of Ramadan and the drive will continue as long as they are required, he added.

Md Sabur Khan, chairman of Daffodil International University presided the roundtable and Vice Chancellor Prof Aminul Islam, former BSTI director general Liakot Ali and Dean Mahoney of the Food Safety Unit, World Health Organisation also spoke.