All, including the producers and consumers, will have to be more aware about safe and nutritious food as the foodstuff might be adulterated at any stage, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday.

“More awareness is essential to ensure food safety,” he said while addressing a programme arranged at the city’s BIAM Foundation Auditorium, marking the National Food Safety Day 2022.

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The minister said Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has relentlessly been working to ensure safe food for consumers.  “Alongside conducting mobile court drives, it has been raising awareness among consumers by arranging meetings and seminars as well as sensitising the producers and businessmen about the issue,” he said.

“There’s no food crisis for 180 million people. Efforts are now being made to provide nutritious food to people,” Majumder said.

He hoped that united efforts of all concerned would help the government ensure food safety and thus build a healthy nation.

Majumder said there was no scarcity of food in the country even during the Corona pandemic and not a single person died due to food shortage. 

Mentioning that there is the maximum stock of food now in the country, he said that the rice is being sold through open market sale (OMS) at upazila, municipality and district levels throughout the country.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said Bangladesh has now surplus in production of fish, meat and milk. Initiatives have already been taken to diversify these products.  Labs have been set up to ensure quality fish, meat and milk for consumers, he said. 

The minister also called upon the media and businesspeople to ensure safe food.

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Food Secretary Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum presided over the programme, while chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Md Abdul Kayowm Sarker delivered the welcome speech.

With the theme of ‘Principle of Good Health is Safe Food and Hygiene,’ the National Food Safety Day was observed in the country on Wednesday.