Dhaka: The government will continue its all-out effort to ensure safe food for the consumers, Food Minister Sadhan Chanda Majumder said on Saturday

‘More manpower will be recruited soon to strengthen the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) to make it an effective body,’ he said while addressing a discussion at Jatiya Press Club on the occasion of National Food Safety Day, reports the UNB.

BFSA organised the function with its Chairman Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque in the chair. Food Secretary Shahabuddin Ahmed also addressed the discussion.

Minister Majumder said BFSA was now working with different departments and agencies to ensure safe food for consumers.

‘The recruitment [of manpower] will help BFSA work more effectively,’ he said.

BFSA was formed in 2015 following the passage of Food Safety Act, 2013, to ensure a modern technology-based food safety system across the country. BFSA Chairman Mahfuzul said his organisation would soon launch mobile applications to help consumers choose safe food.

He said there would be safe food fair on Sunday and Monday which is expected to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangladesh Krishibid Institution.

Different government organisations, food processing companies, traders, importers and other stakeholders will be participating in the fair to showcase safe food to the consumers.

Meanwhile, B-Safe Foundation (Bangladesh Safe Agro Food Efforts), an organisation campaigning for food safety, organised a seminar titled ‘Expectation for Nutrient and Safe Food’ at the Jatiya Press Club.

With Dr Syed Anwar Hossain in the chair, the function was also addressed by B-Safe Secretary Ataur Rahman, Vice President TIM Zahid Hossain, and former agriculture secretary Anwar Faruque.

The speakers said food adulteration and pollution had been the biggest hurdles towards ensuring secured and safe food for the people of the country.

They said there is no alternative to safe and nutrient food to ensure a healthy nation.