A combined effort of public-private partnership is needed in food production, inspection, and supply to the consumer level through trusted and committed entrepreneurs, a seminar on safe food was told on Thursday. Speakers at the seminar said even when food is in a safe method, it is contaminated by use of harmful chemicals and preservatives during the process to supply to the consumers. Sometimes it is produced using unsafe chemicals and fertilizers, they said. The seminar titled ‘'Strengthening smallholder farms and rural enterprises to better cope with climate change in the vulnerable haor regions of Bangladesh’ was held at the conference hall of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BSFA), in the capital on Thursday. Bangladesh, Kuwait explore trade and food security ties Dr. Md. Nazim Uddin, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute who is in charge of Bangladesh Organic Agriculture Network, in a keynote presentation highlighted different steps of safe food production, supply, and farm management. Chairman of BFSA Zakaria noting some limitations said, “Mymensingh is home to 60 lakh people. There is only one food safety officer there. Now it is difficult to ensure food safety for so many people with just one person. And such a situation prevails everywhere.” He said it is important for those involved in food production to have appropriate knowledge and training. To provide this training, BFSA is arranging online training. Those who need it can take training from here. However, it is necessary to establish a training centre at the initiative of hotel owners to train hotel staff. He said, “Education is needed for health safety. And a coordinated effort is needed to achieve this education. Our journey has started to ensure safe food, and this journey will continue.” Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Shawkat Osman said, there is no alternative to organic fertilizers for safe food production. Food Adviser calls for action against illegal food hoarding However, it is not possible to produce sufficient agricultural products with organic fertilizers alone. Chemical fertilizers are needed. However, organic fertilizers can play a supporting role in this regard, he pointed out. BSTI Director Md. Saiful Islam said that there is no alternative to social movements to increase food awareness. And political will is required for this social movement. Because, “We are government employees, we have no power of our own. We have to do what is in the law,” he said mentioning limitation. Fakir Muhammad Munawar Hossain, director of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department, said that to ensure safe food for consumers, it is necessary to ensure proper implementation of the law and increase social awareness. “A social movement should be developed for social awareness to take safe food for the safety of health,” he pointed out. CAB General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan presided over the programme. The event was organized jointly by CAB and Friend In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) with support of Welt Hunger Life.

The World Food Safety Day is being observed in the country on Monday as elsewhere in the globe with an aim to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage food borne risks and contributing to food security. This year’s theme, ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’, stresses that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet and the economy, according to WHO. Read: FAO lauds Hasina's leadership in attaining food security in Bangladesh Recognizing the systemic connections between the health of people, animals, plants, the environment and the economy will help us meet the needs of the future. Recognizing the global burden of foodborne diseases, which affect individuals of all ages, in particular children under-5 and persons living in low-income countries, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2018 that every 7 June would be World Food Safety Day. In 2020, the World Health Assembly further passed a resolution to strengthen global efforts for food safety to reduce the burden of food borne disease. WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations. Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers.  Everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy. Read: Campaign on right to food, health launched Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO works to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of food borne diseases globally. Marking World Food Safety Day, advocacy and research organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) urged to immediately finalize and implement the regulations on limiting trans fats in food. Industrially produced transfat is a toxic food element that increases risks of premature deaths from heart diseases. Around 500,000 people die across the globe each year due to transfat-induced heart diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the target to eliminate industrially produced transfat from the global food supply by 2023. Read: UAE provides 50 mts humanitarian food aid to Bangladesh The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has prepared the draft “Regulations on Trans Fatty Acids Control in Foodstuffs, 2021”, but its finalization is still underway. Underscoring World Food Safety Day, Executive Director of PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) ABM Zubair has said, “There is no alternative to  safe food for nurturing a healthy generation. Eliminating trans fat from food can save the lives of thousands and it is also a cost effective measure for the government. Trans fat must be eliminated from the food chain immediately for ensuring safe food for all.”  

In order to safeguard public health, the draft regulations on “Limiting Trans Fatty Acid in Food Products Regulations, 2021”has been uploaded for public consultation on the website of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (http://www.bfsa.gov.bd/).

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) will unveil its draft policy on Monday seeking public opinion before finalising the guideline to regulate the use of industrially-produced trans fat in the food supply.

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.

Pointing out that industrially produced trans fat, often present in tasty treats, is a silent killer, experts have urged the Bangladesh government to formulate laws at the earliest to rid foods of the 'abdominal fat' in order to prevent hundreds of premature deaths every year.

On the occasion of the World Food Day, advocacy group PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) on Thursday said policies must be formed fixing the maximum limit of trans fat to 2 percent of total fat in all oils, fats, and foods as trans fat in food increases risk of heart disease.

A by-product of a process called hydrogenation that is used to turn healthy oils into solids, Trans Fatty Acid (TFA), commonly known as trans fat, has now emerged as a deadly threat to life on Earth and Bangladesh as well.

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.