‘No health risk matter in broiler chicken’

Staff Reporter :
There is nothing health risk matter in broiler chickens and the price of its meat is cheapest. Broiler chicken, a source of protein, is very popular and available in in Bangladesh.
 Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque said this while disclosing a research result at a press conference held in the secretariat on Thursday.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) conducted a research between January to June 2022, the research shows that very small amount of two antibiotics (oxytetracycline and doxycycline) and three heavy metals (arsenic, chromium and lead) were present in broiler chicken meat, bones and composites.
“Broiler chicken meat contains amino acids,vitamins and minerals, which helps in building the body. It also helps increase intelligence and the immunity of the body,” he said.
Many of us have misconceptions or dilemmas about whether it is safe to consume broiler chicken or not, the Minister said adding “There is no health risk in eating broiler chicken as it contains antibiotic and heavy metal residues far below the maximum tolerable levels in meat.”
“There are many campaigns in various newspapers and social media that broiler meat contains antibiotics, heavy metals and other harmful substances which are harmful to human. Such misconception is absolutely wrong and nothing harmful matter in broiler chicken,” Md Abdur Razzaque said.
People very often reduce their consumption of broiler chicken after hearing such misleading information, the Agriculture Minister said, adding that the common people often has a misconception about broiler meat.
“This has a major detrimental effect on the broiler industry. In 2020, we witnessed such a precedent at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. At that time broiler meat consumption was drastically reduced,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister also said, “the income of most of the common people in the country is low. They cannot buy the necessary nutritious food especially non-vegetarian food with such limited income. Comparatively, high-quality chicken meat produced commercially all over the world, which is rich in meat and cheap.”
So, broiler chicken meat can provide nutrition and protein for working people those who earned the limited income, he said adding that the per capita consumption of chicken meat in Bangladesh is very less compared to other countries.
Speaking at the briefing, the minister said broiler meat available in supermarkets has lower levels of antibiotics and heavy metals than those in farms and kitchen markets.
If the demand for broilers can be increased, it is possible to increase production by making full use of the existing farms and infrastructure in the country, said the agriculture minister, urging all to popularise broiler meat among people.
So, the broiler chicken market will grow rapidly, the establishment of the poultry meat processing industry will increase, employment will be created and a large amount of foreign exchange will also be earned through exports, he said.
“Besides, campaigns and public awareness should be created on the consumption of broiler chicken to build a healthy nation, meet the demand for meat and create employment.”
Speaking at the press briefing, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said the government is trying to modernise the poultry sector and provide government support for its development.
“We have also requested NBR (National Board of Revenue) to give duty concession on import of poultry feed,” he added.