Food adulterators dubbed enemies of humanity

Food adulterators dubbed enemies of humanity

Describing those who adulterate food as ‘silent killers and enemies of humanity’, speakers at a human chain on Friday urged the government to take proper initiatives, including providing necessary equipment to laboratories for to food tests, to ensure safe food for all.

Nirapad Khaddo Chai, a platform for safe food, organised the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club.

Dr MA Jaher, president of the platform, said food adulteration is more dangerous than a nuclear bomb. “Those who adulterate food are enemies of humanity and silent killers,” he said, demanding that the government ensures safe food for all.

“There’s no alternative to taking safe food for the survival. Safe food is one of people’s basic rights but a section of unscrupulous traders adulterates food in various ways. As a result, general people are affected by many diseases, including cancer, kidney failure and diabetes,” he said.

Dir Jaher also urged people to come forward to wage a social movement to ensure food safety in the country. “A social movement is a must against dishonest traders.”

Nirapad Khaddo Chai General Secretary Abdur Rahman said the government should provide all necessary equipment to laboratories for testing foodstuffs.

He also demanded that Prof ABM Faroque, immediate past director of Dhaka University’s Biomedical Research Centre who found antibiotics Oxytetracycline, Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin in samples of milk in his tests, is not harassed.

Rahman also said they will continue their social movement until safe food is ensured for all.

Prof Ali Abbas Khursed, a teacher of the Institute Nutrition and Food Science of Dhaka University, and Moktar Hossain Forazi, managing director of Forazi Hospital, were, among others, present.

According to a written statement of the platform, around 3 lakh people are affected by cancer while 1.50 lakh by diabetes in Bangladesh every year following food adulteration.