NN Online:
Dr Ruhul Amin, a professor at Dhaka University’s Institute of Food and Nutrition, has revealed that fruits and vegetables in Bangladesh contain the highest levels of pesticide usage.
He came up with the findings at a “Meet-the-Press” event held at the city’s Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) office on Monday.
He pointed out that local farmers often ignore safety guidelines when applying these chemicals, raising serious concerns about food safety.
“As a result, traces of pesticides are frequently detected in these food products, raising concerns about food safety,” he said, stressing, “It is difficult to determine the safety levels of domestically produced food, and emphasized that all food should ideally be safe for consumption.”
The seminar, which discussed the overall activities of the BFSA, was attended by its Chairman Zakaria as the chief guest, with Dr Amin presenting the main paper. BFSA Members Mahmudul Kabir Murad and Mohammad Wahiduzzaman were also present.
In his presentation, Dr Amin discussed food safety in relation to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which addresses food security and safe food consumption.
He pointed out the percentage of fruit consumption among rural and urban populations, revealing that 23.8 per cent of rural people and 38 per cent of urban dwellers consume fruit. Regionally, fruit consumption varies, with Barishal at 40.2 per cent, Chattogram at 17.3 per cent, Dhaka at 26.5 per cent, Khulna at 26.2 per cent, Mymensingh at 35.8 per cent, Rangpur at 60.1 per cent, and Sylhet at 45.7 per cent.
In terms of meat consumption, rural populations consume 15.7 per cent of beef and 33.1 per cent of poultry, while egg consumption is 10.1 per cent in rural areas and 18.9 per cent in urban ones.
Although the production of eggs, milk, and meat has increased in the country, Dr Amin noted that the wealthy are able to consume these foods at a much higher rate than the poor, with the latter’s intake standing at just 2 per cent compared to 7 per cent for the wealthy.
Regarding food safety management, Dr Amin stressed that in order to export food, it must meet safety standards. Without this, foreign buyers are unlikely to purchase Bangladeshi products.
He explained that food safety is ensured through three levels: public food safety, third-party inspection, and national-level measures.
When asked about the level of food safety in the country, Dr Amin said it is difficult to determine the exact safety of any food product, especially in fruits and vegetables, where pesticide use is notably high.
In addressing pesticide concerns, Zakaria advised that vegetables should be soaked for 15 minutes to reduce pesticide residue.
He cautioned people to avoid highly unsafe or harmful foods, such as organ meats, and be mindful of portion sizes when consuming them.
The BFSA is currently operating with a workforce of 248 personnel, and efforts are underway to increase this number. In addition, three new labs will be set up in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna with foreign funding to further test food safety.
Zakaria also highlighted the difficulty of conducting product testing in open markets since the BFSA does not control production. However, they monitor restaurants to ensure they do not serve adulterated food, and when violations are found, the authorities take strict action.
He mentioned that the BFSA recently discovered chalk powder in spices in Kushtia and harmful substances in a soft drink several months ago.
Despite the BFSA’s efforts to take action, the companies involved resorted to legal channels to resolve the issue, showcasing the limitations of the authority, he added.
