Speakers at a seminar on Thursday urged people to eat more fruits, emphasising that formalin has no role in fruit preservation and ripening.

They said this during the seminar titled "The Role of Family Practice and Nutrition to Ensure Food Nutrition," organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) at its office training room, according to a press release.

They explained that formalin is a highly volatile substance that reacts with protein foods but does not interact with fruits.

BFSA Chairman (Additional Secretary) Zakaria, the chief guest at the seminar, stressed the importance of inter-agency coordination. He noted that many government organizations are involved in managing the food business, making it a complex and time-consuming task to unify these efforts. "However, through gradual cooperation, a safe food environment can be ensured in the country," he said.

Member of the Authority Mohammad Mostafa delivered the welcome speech, while Khaleda Islam, the director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, presented the main paper at the seminar.

In her presentation, she discussed the importance of safe food, its relationship with sustainable development, food hazards, foodborne diseases, the current status of food safety in the country, the adverse effects of unsafe food consumption, food wastage, food waste management, misconceptions about formalin, and the use and harmful effects of trans fatty acids in food. She also detailed the steps to be taken in cooking and preservation, and the role of using safe water.

Dr. Umme Salma Munni, a nutritionist and consultant at Monowara Hospital in the capital, also spoke at the seminar. She emphasized the importance of spreading knowledge and experience from those working in the nutrition sector to the wider public. "A safe food environment can only be ensured through proper coordination and the exchange of experiences," she added.

The seminar was attended by officials from the Food Ministry, food safety officials, food traders, leaders of the restaurant owners' association, representatives from various food establishments, media workers, and many others.