Food
Russia-Ukraine grain deal extended in win for food prices
A wartime agreement that unblocked grain shipments from Ukraine and helped temper rising global food prices will be extended by four months, the United Nations and other parties to the deal said Thursday, preventing a price shock to some of the world’s most vulnerable countries where many are struggling with hunger.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the 120-day extension a “key decision in the global fight against the food crisis.” Struck during Russia’s war in Ukraine, the initiative established a safe shipping corridor in the Black Sea and inspection procedures to address concerns that cargo vessels might carry weapons or launch attacks.
The deal that Ukraine and Russia signed in separate agreements with the U.N. and Turkey on July 22 was due to expire Saturday. Russia confirmed the extension but said it expected progress on removing obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia where millions of impoverished people lack enough to eat. Russia was also the world's top exporter of fertilizer before the war. A loss of those supplies following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine had pushed up global food prices and fueled concerns of a hunger crisis in poorer countries.
While the extension prevents a price shock in developing nations that spend far more on food and energy than richer countries, threats persist from droughts in places like Somalia and the weakening of currencies around the world, which makes buying imported grain more expensive.
“I was deeply moved to know that in Istanbul, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the U.N. had come to an agreement for the rollover of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, allowing for the free exports of Ukrainian grains,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said the decision to extend the deal came after two days of talks in Istanbul between delegations from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the U.N. that were held in a “positive and constructive” atmosphere.
Russia had voiced dissatisfaction with the deal facilitating exports of Russian grain and fertilizer, hinting that it might not approve an extension and even briefly suspending its part of the deal late last month. It cited risks to its ships following what it alleged was a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Although Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine did not target food exports, many shipping and insurance companies were reluctant to deal with Moscow, either refusing to do so or greatly increasing the price.
Guterres said the U.N. was “fully committed” to removing hurdles to shipping food and fertilizer from Russia.
The United Nations has been working to overcome issues related to insurance, access to ports, financial transactions and shipping for Russian vessels, according to a U.N. official who was not authorize to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the insurance issue has mainly been resolved in recent days.
Russia has offered to donate 260,000 metric tons of fertilizer stored in European ports to farmers in the developing world who have been priced out of the fertilizer market because of shortages, and the official said the first ship is slated to leave the Netherlands on Monday for Mozambique, where the fertilizer will go by land to Malawi. Further shipments are expected from Belgium and Estonia, the official said.
Read more: Russia to suspend UN-brokered grain deal with Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had allowed the extension to take effect “without any changes in terms and scope.” It said Russia noted the “intensification” of U.N. efforts to hasten Russian exports.
“All these issues must be resolved within 120 days for which the ‘package deal’ is extended,” the ministry said.
During talks on the extension, the sides discussed possible additional measures to “deliver more grain to those in real need,” the ministry added, apparently to address Russian complaints that most of the grain has ended up in richer nations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested Thursday that wheat from Russia could be turned into flour in Turkey and shipped to African nations in need.
U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said last month that 23% of the exports from Ukraine under the grain deal have gone to lower- or lower-middle-income countries and 49% of all wheat shipments have gone to such nations.
Markets were pleasantly surprised by the extension, said Ian Mitchell, co-director of the Europe program at the Center for Global Development who specializes in agriculture and food security. Following the announcement, wheat futures prices dropped 2.6% in Chicago.
“Ukraine and Russia are such important grain exporters that the rest of the market can’t fully substitute for the complete absence of Ukrainian grain,” he said. “So that deal is going to matter to food prices significantly, even if the volumes are not what they were before the invasion.”
He said, however, that uncertainty is “unhelpful in this deal.” Toward the end of the four-month extension, markets will “price in the risk that it wasn’t extended, and prices will rise a little bit again.”
Arnaud Petit, executive director of the International Grains Council, said the Black Sea region produces some of the world's cheapest wheat and securing those supplies prevents a price shock to developing nations.
There have been good harvests in the region, contributing to an expected 10 million more tons of wheat worldwide compared with last year, he said. The extension means that Ukrainian farmers can plan to plant.
Petit called the extension a building block in “an unstable region where things can change on a daily basis.”
Read more: Russia rejoins key deal on wartime Ukrainian grain exports
However, when it comes to food prices, trade movement isn’t as important as currencies around the world weakening against a strong U.S. dollar, which commodities like wheat and other grain are priced in, Petit said.
The council calculated that for Ghana, which mainly imports its wheat from Canada, the price of wheat in dollars from Canada has been largely stable for two years. But changing into local currency translated to a 70% price hike.
Global food prices declined about 15% from their March peak after the grain initiative was adopted in July.
“With the delivery of more than 11 million tons of grains and foodstuffs to those in need via approximately 500 ships over the past four months, the significance and benefits of this agreement for the food supply and security of the world have become evident,” Turkey's Erdogan said.
Top 10 Most Expensive Foods in the World
Food is one of the basic necessities of human survival. For food connoisseurs, food is the love of life. If you are a foodie, are you ready to pay for a meal that cost over 1000 dollars or Tk1 lac? Here is a list of the world's most expensive food items that only multi-millionaire foodies can try out.
Top 10 Costliest Foods for Humans on Earth
Wagyu Beef
If you watch MasterChef Australia, you would be familiar with wagyu beef. This simply translates to “Japanese Beef” which comes from four different breeds of Japanese cow. Wagyu beef is famous for its intensely mottled fat that renders down during the cooking process. You will really love it as it is moist, tender, and melts in the mouth.
The rearing process of wagyu cows is very tough as the cows are required to be reared and fed according to strict guidelines. So, the price point amounts to around ₹40,000 (Tk50143) per kg.
Read More: 5 Bonfire Night Recipes to Try this Winter
Saffron
Saffron is a type of seasoning, that almost all Indians use during special occasions. But Indians use it very carefully as to collect just 1kg of saffron, one has to collect over 3,00,000 flowers. The whole process of collecting saffron is not easy at all as it grows only for a week throughout the year during autumn.
Iranian saffron is the most expensive variety on earth. The price of Saffron ranges from $400 (Tk41092) to $1000 (TK102730) per kilogram. Asia and the Mediterranean are the main origins of Saffron.
Kopi Luwak
Kopi Luwak is the most popular and highly costly coffee in the world. It is made from golden coffee beans that are collected from the feces of the civet, a small cat that lives in some parts of Asia.
Read More: 5 Delicious Winter Picnic Recipes
The cat eats the coffee berries and exudes the whole beans as they can’t digest the beans. Then the farmers collect their precious droppings and then washed, pound, dry, and roast them. It will cost you around $600 (Tk61638) per pound.
Moose Cheese
Cheese is always the most expensive milk product. But Moose is the costliest cheese in the world as it is produced with Moose milk. Only Sweden is the place where Moose cheese is processed and found. You exactly can’t get it anywhere else in the world. You will buy it for about US$ 1,000 (TK102730) per kilogram.
Moose cheese is so expensive as Milking Moose isn’t an easy task. Two sisters run a farm namely The Elk House (Älgens Hus) farm at Bjurholm in Sweden is considered to be the largest and the main producer of this cheese.
Read More: 5 Winter Vegetable Curry Recipes for Children
White Truffles
White truffles are underground fungi that grow in Europe. The climate of Europe is suitable for the growth of white truffles as they require very specific environments and climatic conditions to grow.
White Truffles are very expensive than the other varieties of mushrooms as they are available and cannot grow any place. You cost up to $1,000 a pound to buy white truffles. It is usually served with an omelet, butter, Parmesan, or risotto. White truffle is available in Italy, France, and the Pacific Northwest.
Matsutake Mushrooms
Matsutake mushrooms grow in Japan's Tamba region and it is considered one of the most expensive mushrooms. These mushrooms are famous because it has a special sweet and spicy taste.
Read More: 12 foods that shouldn’t be given to babies and children
These mushrooms are harvested only once a year during autumn and are thought a delicacy in Japanese cuisine. Especially difficult to find and fragile, it is roughly priced between $1,000 (Tk1,02,730) to $2,000 (Tk2,05,460) for a pound.
Ayam Cemani Black Chicken
Ayam Cemani Black chicken or Goth chicken is bred in Indonesia. Everything from feathers to the flesh is absolutely black including its tongue and organs. Just its blood is red.
As it is extremely rare, this breed of poultry costs a pretty sum of $5000 (TK5,13,650) per pair. In Indonesia, this breed is somehow cheap but outside the country, it is sold for thousands of dollars. This breed is also known and famous as a sports chicken.
Read More: 5 Simple One-Skillet Dinner Recipes for Busy Bachelors
Black Watermelon
Densuke Melon is another name for black watermelon. It originates from Japan and is so expensive that these are not sold openly but rather auctioned every year. Traditionally, black melon is considered to be a priceless wedding gift for the Japanese.
It requires large space to grow and grows only 1,00,000 Densuke watermelons each year. So, each melon costs up to $6,000 (Tk6,16,380).
Swallow's Nest Soup
Swallow's nest soup or Chinese bird’s nest soup is loved by foodies around the globe. This soup is made from the saliva of Swiftlet birds. It is served in 3 different colors namely Red, Yellow, and White.
Read More: Top brain foods for studying and exams
Among them, the red bird nest soup is the most expensive. You will be wondered to know that a bowl of this red bird’s nest soup costs $10,000 (Tk10,27,300) as it is the most delicious among the three varieties.
Countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar consider this soup a national cuisine.
Albino Caviar
If you think of fancy expensive food, you can think of caviar. These are fish eggs known to be one of the world’s most famous menus.
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The priciest caviar in the world is Almas, which is harvested from endangered Iranian Albino Beluga sturgeons. So, White Pearl Albino Caviar is the most expensive variety of Caviar on earth.
The Caspian Sea is the origin of this fish that produced this rare caviar. However, they are now almost extinct in their native environment. If you want to buy it, you have to pay around $34,500 (Tk35,44,185) per kg to buy it. Not to mention, its price tag makes it clear why it is called a "Almas," the Russian term for diamond.
Bottom Line
So far we have listed the top 10 most expensive edible foods in the world. Here the approximate price of each food has been calculated according to the conversion rate of $1 equivalent to Tk102.73 and 1Rs to Tk1.25.
Read More: Health Benefits of Nigella Seeds (Kalijira)
Each of these foods is rare, and difficult to breed or cultivate. Not to mention, every food on this list has some unique features. However, the exorbitant prices can’t assure the extraordinary taste or nutritional value of these foods. Still, foodies around the world are curious about these costliest foods. If you can afford these foods, will you try any of them?
5 Bonfire Night Recipes to Try this Winter
What makes the winter season more amazing is the evening parties, especially Bonfires. Besides fun games, music, dance, and chats, exciting foods can make a party joyous. To arrange a cozy and fun bonfire night you can make a comforting food menu. Let’s take a look at some yummy meals for bonfire nights.
Top 5 Recipes for Winter Bonfire Nights
Grilled Mutton Chop Recipe
Ingredients:
Mutton Chops 1/2 Kg, Yogurt 1/2 Cup, Lemon Juice 2 tbsp, Ginger Garlic Paste 1 tbsp, Salt 1/2 tsp, Black Pepper Powder 1/2 tsp, Coriander Powder 1 tsp, Kashmiri Chilli Powder 1 tsp, Chilli Flakes 1 tsp
Method:
Take a bowl and add Yogurt, Lemon Juice, Ginger Garlic Paste, Salt, Black Pepper Powder, Coriander Powder, Kashmiri Chilli Powder, and Chilli Flakes and mix it well. Now put Mutton Chops and marinate them for 3 hours.
After 3 hours take a grill pan and grease it with oil and preheat it and then place mutton chops and grill them from both sides. Serve with sauce.
Read More: 5 Delicious Winter Picnic Recipes
Honey-mustard Hot Dog Recipe
You and all the members of your family will like this amazing recipe. These honey mustard hot dogs are tasty, fluffy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside.
Ingredients:
2 large potatoes, 1 tbsp oil, 1 tsp paprika, 1 onion (thickly sliced), 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp grainy mustard, 2 frankfurter sausages, 2 hot dog rolls
For the apple slaw
1 cucumber (deseeded and cut into matchsticks), 1/2 green apple (cored and cut into matchsticks), 100g white cabbage (shredded), 2 tbsp yogurt, 2 tbsp salad cream
Method:
First, prepare the oven fan at 180°C. Season and toss the potatoes, half the oil, and the paprika, and roast them well. Roast for 35-40 minutes or as long as they become crisp. Take a baking dish and mix the onion with the honey, remaining oil, and mustard.
Transfer the dish to the oven as soon as the wedges have 20 minutes left to cook or until the onions become soft and golden. Meanwhile, to prepare the apple slaw, mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and set them aside.
After the potatoes and onions are almost done, cook the sausages. To cook sausages follow the instructions given on the packet. Finally, put a sausage and some onions into each bun and serve with the wedges and apple slaw.
Read More: 5 Winter Vegetable Curry Recipes for Children
Chocolate apples
To prepare this recipe you can use your favorite chocolate; dark milk or white. This is perfect to make with children close to bonfire night or anytime. Besides, this dark chocolate recipe with apples is great to suppress allergies reduce the risk of heart attacks. Reduces the risk of particular cancers and minimizes the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It betters lung function also.
Ingredients:
10 small apples, ½ cup roasted peanuts ( chopped ), ½ cup candy-coated milk (chocolate candies), 2 pounds semisweet chocolate (chopped)
Method:
First, insert wooden craft sticks into the cores of the apples at the stem. Then, take the roasted peanuts and candies on separate plates and set them aside. Put the chocolate into a glass bowl and set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir all the time as long as melted the chocolate.
Next, quickly dip apples into the melted chocolate and turn to coat completely. After that sink in candy or nuts and then place them on a sheet of waxed paper. Repeat the process with the remaining apples. Keep the apples at room temperature so that the chocolate is firm, for about 20 minutes. Now, Serve.
Read More: 5 Simple One-Skillet Dinner Recipes for Busy Bachelors
Shammi Kebab Recipe
If you love succulent and spicy kebabs, you have to try this easy Shami Kabab recipe. This mutton Shami kabab recipe will become your and your family’s favorite.
Ingredients:
500 gm chopped into cubes mutton, 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/4 teaspoon powdered green cardamom, 1/2 tablespoon sliced garlic, 10 cardamom- green, salt as required, 1 boiled egg, 4 tablespoons chana dal, 1/4 teaspoon spice black pepper, 2 tablespoons red chili powder, 1/2 tablespoon sliced ginger, 1/2 tablespoon clove, 1 tablespoon garam masala powder, water as required
For Filling
2 medium finely chopped onion, 2 small finely chopped green chili, 1 handful finely chopped coriander leaves
Method:
First, to boil the mutton and other ingredients take a pan and add the mutton, water, red chili powder, cumin seeds, black pepper, green cardamom powder, chana dal, garlic, ginger, cardamom pods, clove, and salt.
Make sure you cover the lid. Boil the mixture. Then minimize the heat and continue to cook as long as the meat turns tender.
Now, prepare the mutton mixture & kebab stuffing and when it is ready remove the pan from heat and keep aside to cool.
Then grind this mixture to a paste and add a tablespoon of garam masala and mashed egg to the paste. Next, prepare the stuffing of chopped onion, coriander leaves, and green chilies, and adjust the salt.
It is time to shape kebabs. Shape the kebabs with the mutton mixture and stuff the kebabs with onion and coriander mixture. Once the shape is done fry them in a pan over a high flame. Fry them till they turn brown and serve hot with green chutney and vinegar onion rings.
Read More: 10 Delicious Chicken Snacks Recipes to Try at Home for Children, Adults
Toffee apple bread & butter pudding
Ingredients:
3 apples, juice 1/2 lemon, 4 tbsp sugar, 397g can caramel, 6 finger rolls, 3 eggs, 400ml full-fat milk, 200ml double cream, 1 tsp vanilla extract ice cream (to serve)
Method:
First, slice the apples into rings about as thick as a 50p piece. Then season and toss the apple slices with the lemon juice and 2 tbsp sugar. Next, sprinkle about 2 /3 of the caramel over the base of a large baking dish. Now, layer the rolls and apple rings in the dish in overlapping lines.
Spread leftover caramel here and there on the mixture. Meanwhile, take a jug and whisk the eggs, milk, cream, vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp sugar. Flow the mixture over the rolls and apples then wrap in cling film. Let them set for 30 mins or keep them in the fridge for the whole night.
Prepare the oven to 170C and bake for 45-50 mins as long as the top is golden and the custard has set. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Read More: Having Snacks while Watching Sports: 10 yummy, nutritious, easy recipes
Bottom Line
Many of us enjoy winter Bonfire parties with friends and families. So far, we have discussed the 5 best warm meal recipes for Bonfire nights. These comforting foods can entertain guests outdoors.
'Digital agriculture can give Bangladesh's food, nutrition security a boost'
Digital agriculture can help Bangladesh boost its productivity to secure food and nutrition security amid increasing challenges of climate change and a growing population.
Experts said this at an event organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with Aspire to Innovate (a2i) in Dhaka Thursday.
Digital innovations in agriculture, from mobile phones and internet connectivity for smallholder farmers, to drones, and more advanced technology, have the potential to drive agricultural transformation in the country, they added.
Robert D Simpson, FAO representative in Bangladesh, said: "Digital transformation of agriculture is already here and it is here to stay. Bangladesh is just starting on the road to adopting digital technologies."
"Digitalisation of agriculture will boost the country's productivity, helping it meet the increasing demand for food as the population grows, and fulfil ambitions for increased food exports."
At the same time as rapid population growth, the availability of natural resources such as fresh water and productive arable land is becoming increasingly constrained. Urbanisation is also having important implications for patterns of food production and consumption.
Digital innovations and technologies are part of the solution, the experts said.
Drones, for example, can cut production costs and maximise the efficient use of resources. Real-time AI-enabled digital solutions for data-driven decision-making can help policymakers and stakeholders, including farmers, reduce risk and challenges.
Read: ‘Bangladesh’s agriculture sector needs Tk 15,000cr investment in next 5 yrs’
Digitalisation has also opened up opportunities for agri-tech startups to develop innovative business models targeting smallholder farmers on account of cutting-edge digital technologies that reduce transaction and discovery costs.
Technology means that value chains can become traceable and coordinated at the most detailed level whilst different fields, crops, and animals can be accurately managed to their optimal prescriptions.
Digital agriculture will create systems that are highly productive, anticipatory and adaptable to changes such as those caused by climate change. This, in turn, could lead to greater food security, profitability and sustainability, the experts said.
Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam chaired the inaugural session of the event, where Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, project director of a2i, ICT Division, and Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), were the special guests.
Md Abdus Salam, member director (current charge) of Planning and Evaluation Division of BARC, chaired the technical session. NM Zeaul Alam, senior secretary at ICT Division, was present as the chief guest.
12 foods that shouldn’t be given to babies and children
It is exciting to introduce new foods to your baby. However, not all kinds of foods are suitable for babies. Some foods may cause a choking hazard to young eaters, while others may pose health risks. Let’s take a look at which foods to avoid feeding babies and young children.
12 Harmful Foods for babies and young kids
Salted foods
Babies aged between 7-12 months need 0.37grams of sodium each day. Experts say that naturally healthy and full-term infants can get this requirement from breast milk or formula. So, you don’t need to add salt to your baby’s food. Remember, if a baby consumes extra salt, it exposes them to excess sodium, which is not good at all for their immature kidneys.
Make sure you don’t add salt to your baby's food or cooking water and avoid stock cubes or gravy because they are most often high in salt.
Read How to Encourage Your Child to Try New Food?
Besides these, parents should refrain from feeding readymade, highly processed, high-sodium foods, such as chips, crisps, fries, bacon, and sausages. Accessive amounts of sodium or salt can create hyperosmolarity in the baby which the kidneys of the baby may not handle .
Refined sugar/ Sugary foods
Research has shown that it is not wise to add sugar to the food of babies under 24 months. Experts also say that babies shouldn’t eat only sugar or as a part of the food. Because sugar adds additional calories to the diet of babies which can cause tooth decay over time.
Many parents tend to add refined sugar to their baby’s milk. Babies who take sugar during the months of infancy and early childhood may develop a preference for sweet foods.
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Babies who prefer sugary foods are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life.
Honey
Honey is a great natural sweetener; rich in minerals and antioxidants. It is considered a healthy alternative to sugar.
However, babies under 12 months shouldn’t consume honey due to the infant botulism risk created by the spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism in babies under 1 is a serious and rarely fatal illness that can cause constipation, weakened sucking, poor appetite, lethargy, and even potentially pneumonia and dehydration.
Read How to entertain an unwell child without screen time
Adding to these, honey contains significant amounts of sugar, which poses the same health risks as refined sugar does upon overconsumption.
Therefore, parents shouldn’t feed honey to their babies under 12 months.
Cow’s milk
Cow’s milk is great for adults. Whole cow milk provides several nutrients, However, it is not suitable for babies under 1 year.
Babies should not consume cow's milk as it can be hard for them to digest.
Read How to deal with your demanding child?
Besides, cow's milk doesn't have all the required nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin E that a baby needs to grow and develop during his or her first year.
The baby usually develops allergic reactions and as cow’s milk is allergic, you should avoid it for your baby.
Moreover, cow’s milk has heavy proteins and minerals that put undue stress on a baby’s immature kidneys. These proteins can irritate the baby’s digestive system lining, causing occult bleeding, and increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) over time.
Read How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them
Cheese
You can feed your babies some types of cheese as it is a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamins.
But babies should not be fed mold-ripened soft cheeses including brie, goat cheese, or blue cheese; because these types of cheeses have a higher risk of carrying listeria (bacteria).
Cheeses that are made from unpasteurized milk carry the extra risk of listeria, and babies and young children should not consume these foods.
Read How to comfortably travel with babies
Fruit juice
Fruit juice contains calories but none of the fat, protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, or fiber that babies need. Taking too much juice can cause tooth decay, diarrhea, and other chronic tummy troubles.
Whole nuts and peanuts
Parents shouldn’t give whole nuts and peanuts to children under 5 years old. These foods are not suitable for the digestion system of young children.
However, you can give crushed, ground, or smooth nut or peanut butter to your baby from around 6 months old.
Read Excessive Crying in Infants: Possible Reasons, Tips of Soothing
But if your baby has food allergies or other allergies in your family, talk to doctor before introducing nuts and peanuts to your baby’s food menu.
Raw and lightly cooked eggs
You can give eggs to your baby from around 6 months. Hen’s egg is suitable for babies and young children. But don’t feed them raw and lightly cooked eggs. Cook the egg as long as both the white and yolk become solid.
Refined grains
Nutritionist says that all carbs are not equally nutritious.
Read Breastfed Infant’s Slow Weight Gain: Common symptoms, reasons, solutions
Complex carbs provide naturally-occurring nutrients that are stripped during the refining process and ultimately they turn into whole grains white.
Whole grains are also rich in fiber to keep blood sugar steady. So avoid refined grains and opt for 100 percent whole-grain pasta, bread, cereal, rice, and crackers.
Raw vegetables and fruits
You should avoid giving babies raw vegetables and fruits to eat.
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For example, baby carrots, celery, corn, and green peas may create choking hazards for babies. However, babies can eat these vegetables when they are thoroughly cooked and properly softened.
Babies can eat raw fruits like Berries when they are cut into small pieces.
Sticky foods
Babies should avoid sticky foods like raw jelly cubes, chewy fruits, snacks, marshmallows, and a dollop of peanut butter. These foods stick to the mouth, so it is difficult for babies to swallow them. Experts recommend avoiding these foods for young children until they are four years old.
Read Common Sleep Problems in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help
Rice drinks
Rice is a common grain that is used as a supportive food for babies. But when it comes to rice drinks like rice milk, experts recommend children under five years of age shouldn’t have rice milk as a substitute for breast milk or infant formula. You need to avoid rice drinks as they may have high amounts of inorganic arsenic, which can affect the cognitive development of babies over time.
Bottom Line
Breast milk or formula is the mainstay of a baby's diet in the first year of life. Babies who are older than six months need to be exposed to foods from different food groups.
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However, as the digestive systems of babies under one year are still developing, parents need to consult a pediatrician to get a list of safe foods for babies. So far, we have discussed 12 types of foods to avoid giving infants, babies, and young children. Hope it helps!
19 ‘hunger hotspots’ may trigger major social turmoil
"The war in Ukraine has compounded problems that have been brewing for years: climate disruption, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the deeply unequal recovery," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The world is talking about a global hunger crisis and even in Bangladesh; the PM Sk. Hasina has said that there is a serious threat to food security in 2023.
"There is a real risk that multiple famines will be declared in 2022. And 2023 could be even worse," Guterres added. Till date however no famine has been declared but the threat remains. As it happens, the Horn of Africa is in dire straits and millions face severe hunger. The World Food Programme estimates that 276 million are experiencing severe food insecurity.
Fertilizer and energy prices rose in 2021 and 2022 impacting on harvests compounding the problem. "No country will be immune to the social and economic repercussions of such a catastrophe."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said while mentioning the food shortage crisis that Bangladesh will have to become self-reliant in all aspects of food security. "We have soil and manpower. So, we have to take initiative from now on so that Bangladesh never has to face famine and food insufficiency-like situations. We will have to grow our food," she said. "We have to be self-reliant by growing food for ourselves and we have to give some produced grains to the neighbours."
FAO and WFP warnings
FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP) have said that acute food insecurity could get worse in 19 countries termed “hunger hotspots”. The period will be from October 2022 to January 2023.
Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen remain at the highest concern level requiring the most urgent attention.
Discussing Afghanistan, UN officials said they fear that lives lost due to hunger may already have occurred and about 6 million people could be in Emergency conditions by November. With a harsh winter ahead, things could get worse.
In Ethiopia, the situation is acute particularly in Tigray from the end 2021 but interventions have also been suspended as war has broken out. With five failed rainfalls, over 20 million are considered to be in acute food insecurity. Nigeria too is in a bad shape and nearly 20 million people could be in a famine situation.
Somalia and southern Sudan are both experiencing extreme food insecurity. Yemen will be in great difficulties but the situation appears to be easing slightly. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, the Sahel region, the Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic remain zones of high concern.
Central African Republic, Pakistan, Guatemala, Honduras, and Malawi have been added in the list of hotspot countries, since the June 2022 edition. Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Madagascar meanwhile remain hunger hotspots.
Hunger hotspots: The reasons why
Read: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021: UN Report
Not one but several factors are responsible and they are linked to each other. In fact, conflicts, natural disasters, climate change issues, weak governance and impact of the European Russo-Ukraine war have all contributed to create a global disaster scenario rarely seen since WW 2. While it is eroding confidence in a globalized economic system, the options to that have not been seen either.
Most world leaders and their technocrat advisers appear to be unable to advise them meaningfully. Basically, the situation has rapidly gone out of various governments’ hands.
Inflation, shortage of foreign exchange for imposing essential goods, growing risks of recessions, and significant slowdown in major economies is affecting all. When the European Union and China slows down, the world basically does also. When poverty and acute food insecurity increases, socio-political turmoil is inevitable too as the state system faces collapse in one form or another.
6 of the hotspots are in very bad shape – Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen – and unless humanitarian actions are taken, more starvation and death will occur. Rests are not facing death and starvation immediately but escalating to an extreme level rapidly is very possible.
South Asia
Two countries have been named as “hotspots” in South Asia- Pakistan and Sri Lanka. While Sri Lanka has been undergoing turmoil for at least a year or more, Pakistan has been a recent entrant after its devastating floods. Sri Lanka has seen a massive socio-economic turmoil and its agriculture collapsed after a disastrous decision to introduce organic fertilizers. This was largely because it couldn’t afford to import chemical fertilizers as it had run out of foreign exchange reserves and in severe debt.
Pakistan was a victim of severe flooding caused by what most experts say are climate change factors. But Pakistan is also a victim of poor governance mechanisms and weak ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies.
Other countries of South Asia are still safe but all will remain vulnerable as governance and macro-economic problems plague them all with India the least.
A sort of transition is on which shows that conventional globalization has left most poor zones exposed to risks. Most factors responsible for hunger are long term and apart from mis-governance are located in the wealthy part of the world. However, with military and economic power deciding the relationship, hotspots can only be reduced if at all but this isn’t about to go away, particularly as climate change begins to exert its impact.
British Curry Festival at InterContinental Dhaka with Michelin Star Chef Dominic Chapman
The British Curry Festival, which showcases the UK’s favourite curry dishes alongside the best of British regional cuisine, is returning to Dhaka after a decade. The announcement was made at a press conference on October 19, 2022 at InterContinental Dhaka.
Organized jointly by InterContinental Dhaka and Curry Life Magazine UK, the globe-trotting festival was held for the first time in Dhaka in 2001, with the last instalment in Dhaka being in 2011. Now, the festival is returning more than a decade later. The festival will begin tomorrow (October 21, 2022) at the InterContinental Dhaka’s ‘Elements – All Day Dining’ restaurant for buffet dinner, which will continue until October 26.
Read:5 Simple One-Skillet Dinner Recipes for Busy Bachelors
Curry is Britain’s favourite dish. There are an estimated 12,000 curry houses in Britain. Of these, 90% of restaurants are operated by chefs of Bangladeshi origin.
Over the last two decades, the British Curry Festival has taken the best British curry experience across Europe to Asia. This year, the festival features Michelin Star Chef Dominic Chapman, who is the storied Head Chef and Patron of The Beehive restaurant in Berkshire (the Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants for outstanding food and service, based on quality and consistency). Having travelled the world and worked with several Michelin Starred chefs, Chapman is well acquainted with the rich and complex flavours of international cuisines. Alongside The Beehive, where he has been since 2014, Chapman recently acquired the Michelin-star gastropub The Crown at Burchetts Green, Berkshire. Chapman’s arrival in Dhaka marks the first time a Michelin Star Chef has visited Bangladesh.
Alongside Chapman is an impressive cohort of 5 more award-winning curry chefs: Chef Jamal Uddin Ahmed, owner of the Shozna, Kent; Jafor Solim Uddin of the Maidenhead's The Fat Buddha; Syed Zohurul Islam, Executive Chef at The Capital, Durham; Chef Utpal Kumar Mondal, former Executive Chef of Hotel Hindustan International; and Chef Moloy Halder, Executive Chef of Specialty Groups.
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Among those present at yesterday’s press conference were Lord Karan Bilimoria, former president of the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a life peer of the UK House of Lords; Atiqur Rahaman, Managing Director, Bangladesh Services Limited; Sheikh Mohammad Maroof, Additional Managing Director, City Bank; Frances Jacks, Director of Communications, British High Commission; Syed Belal Ahmed, Editor, Curry Life Magazine; Syed Nahas Pasha, Chief Editor, Curry Life Magazine; and Ashwani Nayar, General Manager, InterContinental Dhaka.
Lord Bilimoria said, “Curry is an essential part of the British way of life. Whether they live in rural or urban areas, government housing or mansions, everyone eats curry, and everyone loves curry. The growth of the industry has been spectacular, emerging from a handful of restaurants in the 1980s to over 12,000 today. Why this curry revolution? The answer is simple: because of the Bangladeshi community, and pioneering Bangladeshi chefs and restaurateurs, in the UK. That’s why it is very important and pertinent that we are here today. Among the doom and gloom that is plaguing us today, be it due to the Ukraine-Russia war, and the numerous crises in energy, labour, and more, this festival is a ray of sunshine amongst all that.”
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He added, “I have felt completely at home since I landed in Bangladesh. It is a pleasure to be here at the InterContinental Dhaka; not only does it have a great history, it is today a phenomenal facility with world-class service comparable to anywhere else in the world.”
Speaking about the British Curry Festival, Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High Commissioner said, “I’m delighted that traditional British curries are being showcased and celebrated in Bangladesh through the week-long British Curry Festival. Curry houses have been a feature of life in the UK for over 200 years, and curry is now a firm British favourite. The UK curry industry was led from the start by enterprising Bengalis, and its continued strength is a great symbol of BritBanglaBondhon.”
During the British Curry Festival at InterContinental Dhaka, Chef Dominic Chapman said, “I’m greatly looking forward to learning about the culture of Bangladesh. I can’t wait to work with the team and have unique culinary experiences. While I will definitely be creating dishes inspired by British recipes, I’m excited to make the best use of the local produce as well. I have learned much from having attended previous editions of the festival, not least how very different ‘British Curry’ is compared to the palates of the subcontinent.”
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5 Simple One-Skillet Dinner Recipes for Busy Bachelors
Single life is enjoyable as it has freedom but when it comes to cooking food the scenario seems different. Food is one of the basic necessities for human survival. Consumption of nutritious food is very important to stay healthy and fit. To avoid the hassle of cooking, many bachelors end up ordering food from restaurant food, which can create diverse health issues. Let’s take a look at 5 simple but easy-made one-skillet recipes for people who live alone.
5 Yummy One-Skillet Dinner Recipes for Bachelors
One Pot Khichuri
Ingredients:
4 tbsp oil, 1 ½ cups onion, 3 bay leaves, 2 cinnamon sticks, 5 cardamoms, two black cardamoms, ½ tsp pepper, 10 cloves, 1 ½ tbsp ginger paste, 1 ½ tbsp garlic paste, 1 kg beef, 1 tsp red chili, ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp coriander, 1 ½ tsp cumin, 1 ½ tsp salt, 6 cups water, 1 cup moon dal, 1 tsp garam masala, 6-8 green chilies, 2 cups fine rice, 1 ½ tsp salt, 1 tbsp ghee.
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Instructions:
First, fry the sliced onions until light brown in color. Then add bay leaves, small cinnamon sticks, cardamoms, black cardamoms, pepper, and cloves. Add other masala paste, water, and beef. Now mix red chili, turmeric, coriander, and cumin, salt, and cook for ten minutes.
Add two cups of hot water and cover with a lid for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir from time to time. Add roast and soak moong dal and fine rice. Finally, add 3 1/2 cups of hot water and cook for another 20 minutes on low heat. Spread ghee before serving.
Pan Roasted Chicken Breast
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 500 g Chicken Breast, Salt, 1 Tbsp Fresh Cracked Pepper, 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes, 4 Cloves Garlic, peeled.
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Instructions:
First, prepare the oven to 425 degrees F. Then preheat the skillet until the oil shimmers in the pan. Add chicken breast, skin side down, and fry for 3 minutes. Turn over the chicken breast, and add cherry tomatoes and garlic cloves to the pan.
Season the entire dish with salt, and fresh cracked pepper. Add the skillet to the oven and roast for 18 – 22 minutes. Then add beans to the skillet with the tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer the dish to a plate and serve.
Skillet Eggs and Potato
Ingredients
1 large potato, 4 large eggs, 10 - 15 grape tomatoes, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 pepper, thinly sliced, 3 tablespoons olive oil, Coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper, Fresh parsley, minced for garnish.
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Instructions:
First, prepare the oven to 200˚F. Then put the tomatoes slice in an oven-safe skillet. Sprinkle them with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper, and roast in the oven for 1 hour. Now, fry the potatoes with the remaining olive oil, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper for 15 minutes till the potatoes are crispy.
Next, add garlic and fry until fragrant. Make 4 holes in the mixture and put one cracked egg at a time into each hole. Cook for about 10 minutes or as long as the eggs are white. Remove from the pan and serve.
One-Skillet Pasta
Ingredients
500 g meat, 1 onion, finely chopped, 1 sweet red pepper, finely chopped, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 1 can reduced-sodium beef broth, 1 can sliced mushrooms, 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 8 ounces pasta.
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Instructions:
First, take a heavy skillet and cook the meat, onion, and pepper until the meat is no longer pink. Then add tomatoes, broth, mushrooms, brown sugar, and chili powder. Let them boil, Reduce heat, and uncovered for 30 minutes. Now add pasta and boil again. Minimize heat; cover until pasta is tender about for 30-35 minutes. Enjoy warm.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
1 tsp water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup shortening, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 eggs, 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 1/2 quart vanilla ice cream, 1/4 cup chocolate syrup.
Instructions:
First, mix baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water and set aside. Then add granulated sugar, vanilla, and eggs with the baking soda-water mix. Now add flour and salt slowly. Next, mix chocolate chips. After then, dissect the mixture between 3 greased 9-inch cake pans and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.
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Let the cookies cool, release the cookie, and put it on a platter. Spread vanilla ice cream over it. Make sure you do the same with the middle layer and top part. Splash with chocolate letting some drip down the sides put the cake into the freezer as long as it is ready to serve.
Bottom Line
On the hectic weekly days, bachelors can hardly make time for cooking. However, ordering or dining at restaurants on a regular basis will not only cost you a huge budget at month-end but also put your health at risk.
So far, we have discussed 5 one-skillet recipes for dinner that bachelors can try at home. If you are a professional or student who lives alone, can try any of these easy-to-prepare recipes in less time. These homemade delicious and healthy foods can save both your money and health. Happy cooking!
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Grow more food, save money to avert famine in Bangladesh: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated that Bangladesh must grow food in every inch of land, go for savings and practice austerity to avert a famine that international organisations fear may grip the world in 2023.
“Utilise every inch of land for food production, we have to go for savings and practice austerity. I hope that all will maintain that course,” she said.
The premier said this at the Flag raising ceremony of Head Quarters 71 Mechanized Brigade, 15 and 40 East Bengals (Mechanized), 9 and 11 Bangladesh Infantry Regiments (Mechanized) held at CMP Centre and School at Savar Cantonment.
She asked all to remain cautious as the international organisations are apprehending that 2023 will be the time of famine across the world.
“But Bangladesh must not fall victim of that famine. For that we have to produce foods in our own lands. We have to go for savings and practice austerity,” she told the ceremony in her virtual address from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Hasina said that the aim of her government is to use every inch of uncultivated land for food production.
She urged every institution to go for food production in whatever land it has.
She mentioned that developed countries are suffering severely due to Ukraine-Russia war and consequent sanctions as food scarcity is becoming evident there.
“Bangladesh is also in the same position. That blow is already being felt here. We are trying to control that,” she said.
In this connection, she said the government has given cards to one crore people for distributing rice at Tk 30 per kg.
She also said the government is selling rice to 35 lakh vulnerable people at a price as low as Tk 15 per kg.
“For those who are unable to work we are giving 25-40 kg of rice per month free of cost considering the size of their families,” she added.
Army chief General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed also spoke at the programme.
PM Hasina witnessed an orderly and graceful parade demonstrated by the members of different brigades and regiments of Bangladesh Army.
IFC pledges $6 billion to tackle food insecurity
The World Bank’s private sector arm International Financial Corporation (IFC) has launched a fresh $6 billion financing facility to strengthen the private sector's ability to respond to food insecurity crisis and help support production in countries affected by food instability, a statement said Tuesday.
A core part of the financing, which will be provided through the new Global Food Security Platform, will support sustainable production and delivery of food stocks, it said.
The $6 billion will be used to support private sector companies along the food value chain by leveraging IFC's sectoral expertise in agribusiness, manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology, as well as the financial sector and trade finance.
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"By strengthening supply chains and ensuring that people have access to and can grow affordable food, this initiative will contribute to building resilient food systems in the most vulnerable regions," said Makhtar Diop, IFC’s Managing Director.
The war in Ukraine and an uneven global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have added to rising levels of hunger and malnourishment, which already have been worsened by climate change and increasingly severe weather events that are damaging harvests and reducing yields.
The Platform will supplement the World Bank's commitment of US$30 billion in response to the food crisis as IFC is also stepping up engagements with other partners, including development finance institutions, foundations, banks as well as a range of private companies.
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The $6 billion support will be aimed at facilitating trade of food commodities, delivery of inputs to farmers, supporting efficient production in major origins, including Ukraine, and effective distribution of food products in destination countries, according to the statement.The money will also help improve the resilience of the global food system and lessen its climate and ecological footprint.
This includes investing in increasing efficient crop production, improving access to fertilizers, greening fertilizer production and use, reducing crop loss and food waste, improving supply chain efficiency, and mitigating infrastructure bottlenecks.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets including Bangladesh. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries.
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