RANGPUR, Feb 2, 2021 (BSS) – Officials and experts at a discussion today said there is no alternative to ensuring safe foods for all to build a healthier nation and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
They put special stress on implementation of wide range government activities to improve public health indexes by ensuring availability of safe foods and eliminating marketing of unsafe foods to save people from cancer, kidney diseases and disability.
The views came at the discussion organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and district administration at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner in observance of the 4th National Food Safety Day- 2021 in the Mujib Year.
The Directorate of National Consumers Rights Protection, Department of Food and Consumers Association of Bangladesh extended assistance to observe the day abiding by the health directives in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan attended the discussion as the chief guest.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Herambo Kumar Roy, Assistant Director of the Department of National Consumer Rights Protection Afsana Pervin, District Livestock Officer Dr. Shah Jamal Khondker, freedom fighter Akbor Hossain, among others, addressed the event.
The speakers stressed on creating mass public awareness to guarantee strict enforcement of the ‘Safe Food Act 2013’ and Consumers’ Right Protection Act, 2009 to ensure rights of consumers to safe food free from adulteration, poisoning and contamination.
The Deputy Commissioner said common consumers are becoming more aware of their rights to getting safe and pure foods and already started reaping enormous benefits from enforcement of the related acts towards the direction.
“All consumers should avoid unsafe foods,” he said and suggested establishing modern technology-based food management systems to ensure production, marketing and consumption of safer foods for attaining the SDGs on time.
He especially called upon both traders and common consumers to become aware of severe consequences of marketing and consumption of adulterated and unsafe foods for building a healthier and developed Bangladesh.