Expressing grave concern over the excess use of insecticide in agriculture, antibiotic in poultry birds and harmful elements in food, speakers at an event called for ensuring safe and healthy foods for the consumers, according to a release.
Such malpractice is going on, resulting in adulteration in food across the country, they said.
Though there is no scarcity of food, there is dearth of safe and healthy foods, they added.
Though food production is satisfactory, farmers have been deprived of getting fair prices of their produces. At the moment, it is a big challenge to ensure safe food for the consumers and also fair prices of crops of farmers, they observed.
They remarked while addressing a discussion at Shitalakhya Hall Room of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in the capital on Monday afternoon.
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Switzerland-based institution, with the support of DSCC organized the discussion, marking the World Food Safety Day 2021.
Prior to the discussion, a rally was brought out in front of Dhaka College. Later, it ended at New Market Bonolota Wet Market in the morning.
The discussion was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of safe and healthy foods for the consumers.
Farid Ahmed, chief executive officer of DSCC, attended the discussion as chief guest.
Md Babor Ali Mir, zonal executive officer (zone-3) of DSCC, Dr Mojur Al Morshed Chowdhury, deputy programme manager, Institution of Public Health Nutrition, Prof Dr Md Abdul Alim, member, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Md Shakhawath Hossain, project director, EatSafe project, and Sheikh Zahidul Islam, president of Islambagh City Corporation Wet Market, among others, spoke.
The speakers stressed raising awareness on safe and healthy food so that the consumers can get such food at affordable prices.
They also called on farmers and concerned others not to use excess harmful elements in poultry birds and crops for ensuring food safety of people.
Funded by USAID, two projects titled ‘EatSafe: Evidence and Action Towards Safe, Nutritious Food: Covid-19 Response’ are now under implementation by GAIN to ensure nutritious and safe food and smooth management of market amid corona situation.
