4.5cr contact foodborne diseases a year
Discussion told
Around 4.5 crore people of Bangladesh get infected with foodborne diseases at least once a year mainly due to consuming contaminated food, claimed a paper of a food and nutrition expert.
Foodborne illness causes long-lasting damage to health, including death and disability, huge economical loss and affects physiological development of children, it said.
Shyamal Kanti Barman, also director of Sustainable Development Associates, presented the paper yesterday at a discussion on "Safe food", marking the occasion of World Food Day (October 16) organised by Progotishil Krishibid Kendra at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Using of pesticides, growth promoters, components of packaging materials, enzymes in food processing, artificial ripening, food and colour additives, formalin are the main reasons for food contamination, he said.
Addressing the discussion, agriculture experts stressed the need for political commitment, social movement and stronger government bodies to check food adulteration.
In many countries, soft drinks are banned as they harm health, said Dr Akhtaruzzaman, professor of Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, Dhaka University. So consumption of these drinks should be checked in Bangladesh, he added.
Prof MA Jalil of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University viewed that the nation would be devoid of talent if food contamination was not checked.
All political parties should unanimously launch a combat against food adulteration, said Dr Jahangir Alam, former director general of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute. He also demanded inclusion of topics on food adulteration in school text books, featuring its adverse impacts.
Cultural and media personality Abdun Noor Tushar opined for strengthening Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) to check contaminated food and for discussing the issue in parliament.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Director Dr Abul Kashem moderated the discussion.
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