The incumbent government is working relentlessly to ensure safe and nutritious food for all. It is good to note that the government is planning to install "food laboratories" in eight divisions across the country aiming to ensure hygienic and quality food in the market, said yesterday.
Food safety has become a serious public health concern. It is of great importance to give attention to food safety now as the country has already achieved sufficiency in production.
The recent situation regarding the hygienic standard of all marketable foods evidently gives us staggering statistics of adulteration. According to a survey more than 75 percent of all foods sold in the markets are in some way or the other adulterated.
It is alarming to note that consumers in Bangladesh have been exposed to a widespread use of meat and bone meal (MBM) in poultry feed which causes antibiotic resistance and cancer.
Also, there has been a series of reports on use of tannery waste as poultry feed. It is worth mentioning that consumption of tannery waste through eating fish and poultry might lead to liver and kidney diseases.
Farmers in our country apply various types of pesticides to protect vegetables and crops from unwanted pests without following necessary guidelines or safety standards.
Strict
enforcement of
hygienic practices
is required to maintain
the quality of foods at
all levels
Experts are of the opinion that the amount of pesticide residues found in vegetables, fruits and crops pose serious health risks for the human body, especially for the children.
Hence, necessary steps should be taken to educate farmers about the negative impact of overusing pesticides on human health and environment. Farmers must be encouraged to cultivate fruits and vegetables in an organic way. Bangladesh needs a new pesticides management law to address issues related to the unsafe use of pesticides.
Strict enforcement of hygienic practices is required to maintain the quality of foods at all levels. Regulation on food availability, accessibility and utilization should be developed and strictly followed. Local vendors should be taught and trained in proper methods for storing foods in a safe manner.
Regulators must also ensure that consumers are well informed to make the right choice. We believe widespread knowledge regarding food safety will not only create awareness, but also it will help ensure that government actions are having a greater impact.