State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, MP, said integrated efforts of all government and non-government organisations have become crucial to ensure food safety for the greater interests of protecting public health from hazards.

All sorts of unsafe foods like adulterated and contaminated ones are injurious to public health. So, there is no way but to ensure safe and nutritious food for all.

State Minister Alam came up with the observation while addressing a view-sharing meeting related to ensuring food safety at Monmohiny High School under Bagha Upazila in the district on Saturday as chief guest.

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) organised the meeting for generating awareness among the gur (molasses) manufacturers so that they can be debarred from adulterating the molasses.

Arani Pourasava Mayor Mukter Ali, Retired Additional Secretary Shafiqul Islam, Deputy Inspector General of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Ariful Islam, Assistant Director of BSTI Debabrota Biswash and Officer-in-Charge of Bagha Police Station Sazzad Hossain also spoke on the occasion with Bagha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter in the chair.

State Minister Shahriar Alam said in-taking of safe food through changing food habits are very important for maintaining sound health coupled with thwarting various non-contagious diseases.

To this end, all quarters including the government and non-government entities should come forward and work together for the sake of a sound public health.

He viewed that the number of patients suffering from various non-communicable diseases, including heart and cancer, is gradually increasing due to in-taking of various unhygienic and unsafe foods. So, there is no way but to generate mass-awareness in this regard.

He also mentioned that food habits are very important for human life and it must be hygienic and safe. Overeating and over-drinking water is also harmful for human health.