Barua calls for movement against food adulteration

People should launch a social movement against adulterators to ensure food security in the country, the industries minister said yesterday.
“It is our social responsibility to create massive awareness involving grassroots people to create safe food networks in every village across the country, as adulterators are using chemicals in food to make higher profits, harming our life,” said Dilip Barua.
The minister made the comments at the inauguration of "Safe Food Festival" at the LGED office in the city. Bangladesh Food Safety Network launched the fair.
Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, presided over the event.
Dominique Burgeon, Food and Agriculture Organisation representative to Bangladesh, Saidul Hoque, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the food and disaster management ministry, Kazi Faruque, president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, and Farida Akhter, executive director of development think-tank UBINIG, were also present.
Barua said, with the passage of time people are gradually dying prematurely amid food insecurity and various health complexities.
“In our childhood, we never thought of movement for safe food. But a social movement has now become an urgency with rapid modernisation and rampant use of chemicals in production and post-production processes," he said.
The minister alleged that those engaged in food adulteration mostly come from the affluent section of the society and they cause irreparable harm to the society in the guise of gentlemen.
Akbar Ali Khan echoed the minister, saying: "Food adulteration has spread out all over the country and the government will have to take stern action against those involved."
He said the government alone will not be able to solve the problem. The participation of the grassroots people is important for the movement.