Dr Ruhul Amin, a professor at the Institute of Food and Nutrition at Dhaka University, has said that the highest levels of pesticide use in Bangladesh are found in fruits and vegetables.
Dr Amin came up with the findings at a “Meet-the-Press” event held at the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) office in Shahbagh, Dhaka, on Monday.
He pointed out that local farmers often ignore safety guidelines when applying these chemicals, raising serious concerns about food safety.
“As a result, traces of pesticides are frequently detected in these food products, raising concerns about food safety,” he said, stressing, “It is difficult to determine the safety levels of domestically produced food, and emphasized that all food should ideally be safe for consumption.”
The seminar, which discussed the overall activities of the BFSA, was attended by its Chairman Zakaria as the chief guest, with Dr. Amin presenting the main paper. BFSA members Mahmudul Kabir Murad and Mohammad Wahiduzzaman were also present.
Chinese envoy meets CJ, offers support to strengthen judiciary
In his presentation, Dr Amin discussed food safety in relation to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which addresses food security and safe food consumption.
He pointed out the percentage of fruit consumption among rural and urban populations, revealing that 23.8% of rural people and 38% of urban dwellers consume fruit. Regionally, fruit consumption varies, with Barishal at 40.2%, Chattogram at 17.3%, Dhaka at 26.5%, Khulna at 26.2%, Mymensingh at 35.8%, Rangpur at 60.1%, and Sylhet at 45.7%.
In terms of meat consumption, rural populations consume 15.7% of beef and 33.1% of poultry, while egg consumption is 10.1% in rural areas and 18.9% in urban ones.
Although the production of eggs, milk, and meat has increased in the country, Dr. Amin noted that the wealthy are able to consume these foods at a much higher rate than the poor, with the latter's intake standing at just 2% compared to 7% for the wealthy.
Regarding food safety management, Dr Amin stressed that in order to export food, it must meet safety standards. Without this, foreign buyers are unlikely to purchase Bangladeshi products.
He explained that food safety is ensured through three levels: public food safety, third-party inspection, and national-level measures.
When asked about the level of food safety in the country, Dr Amin said that it is difficult to determine the exact safety of any food product, especially in fruits and vegetables, where pesticide use is notably high.
In addressing pesticide concerns, Zakaria advised that vegetables should be soaked for 15 minutes to reduce pesticide residue.
Govt issues directives for Tabligh Jamaat activities to maintain peace
He cautioned people to avoid highly unsafe or harmful foods, such as organ meats, and be mindful of portion sizes when consuming them.
The BFSA is currently operating with a workforce of 248 personnel, and efforts are underway to increase this number. In addition, three new labs will be set up in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna with foreign funding to further test food safety.
Zakaria also highlighted the difficulty of conducting product testing in open markets since the BFSA does not control production. However, they monitor restaurants to ensure they do not serve adulterated food, and when violations are found, the authorities take strict action.
He mentioned that the BFSA recently discovered chalk powder in spices in Kushtia and harmful substances in a soft drink several months ago.
Despite the BFSA's efforts to take action, the companies involved resorted to legal channels to resolve the issue, showcasing the limitations of the authority, he added.