Concern over food safety

The issue of safe food is emerging as a huge crisis for our generation. All that looks tasty does not necessarily be healthy. Restaurants in Dhaka city are supposed to be regularly inspected to ensure clean and hygienic kitchens and food service. It is vital for public health and safety that the food served in eateries is always freshly cooked in hygienic environment with fresh ingredients. Food samples collected from eateries all over the city are supposed to be submitted to the Modern Food Testing Laboratory and Training Centre for testing regularly. Alarmingly, the inspection of food items has decreased in the capital over the past few years and one of the city corporations did not send any sample for laboratory test for the last three years, according to media reports.
The reports have raised pertinent points about safe food. The lack of inspecting food items shows the authorities are least concerned about the health of the people. To add to that, the laboratories need to be equipped to test for metal and pesticides in food items. Quality food is important if we as a nation want to become healthy. Only enforcing regulations can save us from a looming health crisis. The authorities need to do a lot more towards improving food testing practices in Bangladesh.
Mahmud Kibria
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
[email protected]