National Food Safety Day today

Today, February 2, is being celebrated across the country as ‘National Food Safety Day’.

This year’s theme is “Khaddo hok nirapod, sustho thakuk jonogon” (Let food be safe, let people be healthy)”.

The Food Safety Authority has organised various programmes across the country marking the day.

This day has been observed as ‘Food Safety Day’ every year since 2018. The main objective of observing the day is to ensure the right of the people to safe food and to increase awareness about this. Along with this, observing the day aims to increase public awareness at all levels about activities related to the production, import, processing, storage, supply, marketing and sale of safe food.

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) is working to implement policies and enforce regulations to ensure food safety. The organisation is conducting various activities to increase public awareness in the field of production, import, processing, storage, marketing and sale of safe food.

According to experts, trans fatty acids (TFA) or transfats are a harmful element that increases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. BFSA has published regulations setting a maximum limit of 2 percent transfat in all types of oils and food products to ensure transfat-free food. It is important to implement it effectively.

PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), a research and advocacy organisation, has said while access to safe food is a fundamental right, the sale of bulk edible oil in drums has become a significant threat to public health.

In a statement on Saturday, the organisation expressed their concern over the issue marking the National Food Safety Day 2025 falls on Sunday.

According to a research conducted by icddr,b in 2017, 65% of the total edible oil sold in Bangladesh is marketed in drums, of which, 59% does not contain Vitamin ‘A’ and 34% is poorly Vitamin ‘A’-fortified.

“Only 7% of the bulk oil sold in drums meets the standard as per the law. These drums do not contain any label or required information about the source, which compromises the traceability of the oil suppliers and makes it impossible to identify the perpetrators.”

ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, said, “Edible oil is a food product, and it is the responsibility of all concerned, including the government, to ensure it reaches consumers safely.”

The marketing of edible oil in drums must be stopped immediately and people should be made aware of the associated dangers, he added.