In a significant move towards ensuring food safety and consumer protection, the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority (BFSA) hosted a meeting on Monday to present and solicit feedback on the "Safe Food (Advertisement and Claims) Regulations, 2024." Held in the BFSA training room, the gathering aimed at refining the draft regulation, which comprises 16 comprehensive articles addressing various aspects of food advertising and claims. Under the proposed regulation, penalties will be imposed for false advertising, use of language that offends community sentiments, obscene content, and false superiority claims about food products. The draft meticulously outlines conditions for advertising, including nutrition and no-salt claims, use of additives, health support claims, and prohibited claims. It also details the process for handling advertising complaints and the penalties for non-compliance. Read: Ghorer Bazar offers safe food products, focusing on health, sustainability Abdul Qayyum Sarkar, Chairman of the BFSA, chaired the meeting and encouraged the integration of stakeholder feedback into the final regulations. The session featured discussions led by notable participants, including Rezaul Karim, former BFSA member, and Nazma Begum, who delivered the welcoming address. Highlighting the regulations' objectives, Nazma Begum stated, "These regulations aim to halt misleading or inaccurate advertisements by considering consumer demands and adhering to Codex principles." Read: Ensure safe food: Food minister Professor Razia Begum of Dhaka University's Department of Marketing emphasized the importance of strict enforcement and broad media dissemination post-implementation. The event saw active participation from representatives of various food establishments, who contributed their insights, with the BFSA assuring consideration of all input received. Nazneen Akhter, a scientific officer at the BFSA, presented the keynote, while the meeting was moderated by Sheikh Ferdous Arafat, a law officer at the authority. This initiative represents a critical step toward enhancing food safety standards and consumer trust in Bangladesh. Read more: First 'Safe Food Carnival' in the country starts from Feb 8

In the ever-evolving food industry, broiler chicken is one of the most popular preferences. This article delves into the subject of safe broiler chicken, a key issue in the future of the poultry industry. Let's find out how this chicken farming system plays an essential role in the food industry. What is Safe Broiler Chicken? The misuse of antibiotics in broiler farming has surfaced as a global public health menace, propelling the surge in popularity of antibiotic-free broiler meat production on a global scale. In this paradigm shift, emphasis is placed on alternative methods in broiler production in Bangladesh as well. The safe broiler system prioritizes animal health, a conducive environment, and high product quality. This approach emphasizes the absence of hazardous ingredients, including antibiotics and growth hormones. It fosters a bio-preservative system and incorporates herbal supplements in animal feed. The result is poultry reared in an eco-friendly manner, embodying the essence of safety and health consciousness in every aspect of production. Consumers increasingly seek assurance in their food choices. Meanwhile, the emergence of these chickens heralds a positive shift towards sustainable, health-centric practices in the poultry industry. Read more: 10 Best Winter Teas to Fight Cold and Flu Recent Advances in Broiler Breeding Md. Shafiqul Islam, a professor in the pharmacology department at Bangladesh Agricultural University, and his associate Md. Abu Raihan Parvez has recently achieved breakthrough success in alternative broiler production. They were able to produce broilers without any form of antibacterial agents, using different types of herbal plant extracts in their laboratory. In their research on broilers, they predominantly utilized various types of herbal extracts, noting their superior efficacy compared to antibiotics. The broilers exhibited significant weight gain, and this increase was notably rapid. Moreover, the rate of morbidity and mortality among them was remarkably low. This research program, spanning five years, holds the potential for a significant leap toward the development of a more advanced poultry industry if implemented on a large scale. Read more: Microwave Cooking: 7 Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes

Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network which, co-convened by Switzerland-based international organisation Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have launched an innovation challenge for young entrepreneurs to ensure the supply and consumption of nutritious and safe food for lower-income groups. Food Frontiers 2.0 wants to find creative business concepts, inexpensive and scalable technical solutions, and campaign ideas to identify new and innovative ways to reach lower-income consumers with nutritious food products. The application window for the innovation challenge already opened and will close on January 15. Read More: More awareness needed to ensure safe food: Minister A shortlist will be made after scrutinising the submissions received in the first round of selection. Representatives from the selected businesses or ideas will attend a three-day residential boot camp session in the capital as part of investment readiness training and business expansion. Seven winners (two each from three categories), including one reserved prize for the International Nutrition Olympiad, will get cash and pre-seed funding for implementing a business plan, expansion of the business, and infrastructure development.   Read More: Safe food to be ensured for all amid pressure over subsidy Food Frontiers 2.0 wants to build the capacity of young entrepreneurs on sustainable food system approaches and business skills for managing a social enterprise. Also, it aims to co-design business models that are geared towards improving the nutrition outcome of the food system, particularly for the most vulnerable; building a pipeline of potential investments for disruptive innovative ideas for the food system of Bangladesh.   The National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Agricultural University are the strategic partners of this event. Read more: 'Digital agriculture can give Bangladesh's food, nutrition security a boost'

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. Read: Food Safety Day: Checking trans-fat intake demanded 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.

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak MP said that safe food will be ensured for all in the next 3-4 years."It will be possible to ensure safe food for all in the next 3-4 years and the incumbent government is working tirelessly to ensure this,".The minister said this while addressing as the chief guest at the Shadow Parliament on "appropriate steps of the government to ensure safe food" at FDC in Dhaka on Saturday.For ensuring safe food, the government has enacted 'Safe Food Act' and the Safe Food Authority has been formed, he added. Read: Edible oil price may go up further: Tipu MunshiMentioning that safe food should also be ensured in case of export, the minister further said that efforts are being made to produce safe crops. Production activities have already started in accordance with good agricultural practices.The Minister further said that in order to ensure safe and nutritious food, the income of the common man must also be increased. If income and standard of life cannot cannot be improved, the incidence of adulterated and unsafe food will increase.Therefore, the government is taking and implementing effective initiatives for mechanization, commercialization and processing of agriculture in order to increase the income of the people and improve the living standards of the large rural agricultural population.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to curb food adulteration in Bangladesh with an iron hand alongside creating awareness among businesspeople against such offences.

The National Food Safety Day will be observed on Tuesday in the country to raise mass awareness regarding the activities and procedures for producing and distributing safe food.

Bangladesh will become a developing country within 2024 despite the challenges unfolded by the Covid-19 crisis.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday emphasised on ensuring safe food to improve the living standards of the people of the country and build a prosperous nation.

The government is determined to ensure safe and nutritious food for everyone, Additional Health Secretary Md Habibur Rahman said on Thursday.