United News of Bangladesh

Despite regulations to control harmful trans fatty acids in food the overall market situation remains alarming, said the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).  It raised the concern at a seminar titled “Harmful Effects of Used Cooking Oil on Human Health and the Environment” held on Monday at the BFSA seminar room. The awareness seminar was jointly organised by BFSA and Munzer Bangla Private Limited. BFSA Chairman Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Martin Shestag, Project Manager (South Asia) of Munzer Bioindustrie GmbH, were present at the event. According to BFSA, analysis of edible oil samples collected across the country in FY 2024–25 revealed widespread non-compliance with safety standards. Test results showed that 7 out of 11 soybean oil samples (63%), 93 out of 95 dalda samples (97%), 26 out of 30 butter samples (86%), and 6 out of 14 margarine samples (42%) contained trans fatty acids above the permissible limit. The authority said that under the Trans Fatty Acid Control Regulations 2021, the maximum allowable limit of trans fat is 2 percent (excluding naturally occurring trans fat), effective from December 31, 2022. The regulation applies to all processed, packaged and prepared foods, and products cannot be labelled as ‘trans fat-free” or “zero trans fat’. BFSA officials said inspections in hotels and restaurants frequently detect irregularities, particularly the repeated use of burnt cooking oil, which poses serious health risks. As part of its ongoing efforts, BFSA collects used cooking oil from restaurants and conducts awareness campaigns through bulk SMS, posters and TV scroll messages, urging traders and consumers to avoid repeated use of cooking oil. The authority follows internationally recognised testing methods for detecting trans fatty acids, including those approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) and International Dairy Federation (IDF). However, BFSA acknowledged several challenges, including limited laboratory capacity, shortage of skilled manpower, lack of chemical reagents and low public awareness. In its presentation, Munzer Bioindustrie GmbH said cooking oil becomes hazardous when repeatedly heated at 180–200°C, leading to chemical changes that produce toxic compounds linked to heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses. In Bangladesh, trans fat is mainly produced through two common practices: the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO), locally known as dalda or vanaspati, and the repeated reuse of cooking oil. Another study revealed that PHO used in bakeries and restaurants can contain more than 10 percent trans fat, far above the WHO-recommended limit of 2 percent. The presentation also noted that economic incentives drive many street food vendors and small traders to reuse cooking oil multiple times, degrading its quality and increasing toxic compound formation. More than 100,000 tonnes of used cooking oil are generated annually, much of which re-enters the food chain illegally, posing a major public health risk. Experts also highlighted household-level concerns, noting that used oil is often reused excessively, mixed with fresh oil, or disposed of through sinks and drains, contributing to environmental pollution and drainage blockages. “Health does not begin in hospitals but in everyday life—especially in the kitchen,” said Ewald-Markus Munzer, Managing Director of Munzer. Highlighting ongoing efforts, BFSA Deputy Director Ruhul Amin said the agency is expanding monitoring and awareness activities to control misuse of used cooking oil and improve food safety standards. “During the last Ramadan, BFSA conducted 720 monitoring drives, inspecting different shops, hotels and restaurants. In many cases, business owners cooperated with us,” he said. “We informed them how used oil can be properly disposed of, its optimal use, and that they can also receive financial benefits in return,” he added. According to data presented at the event, Munzer Bioindustrie GmbH collects around 16 metric tonnes of used cooking oil annually. However, between April and June 2023 alone, the company collected about 85 metric tonnes of burnt oil. Officials said hotels and restaurants across the country have the potential to supply at least 100 metric tonnes of used oil, indicating significant opportunities for proper collection and recycling. “To utilise this opportunity, we have brought together business owners, students and relevant stakeholders. Our goal is to raise awareness and build an effective supply chain so that used oil can be collected and reused properly,” a speaker said. BFSA Member (Food Industry and Production) Professor Mohammad Shoeb also spoke at the event.

In a significant move towards ensuring food safety and consumer protection, the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority (BFSA) hosted a meeting on Monday to present and solicit feedback on the "Safe Food (Advertisement and Claims) Regulations, 2024." Held in the BFSA training room, the gathering aimed at refining the draft regulation, which comprises 16 comprehensive articles addressing various aspects of food advertising and claims. Under the proposed regulation, penalties will be imposed for false advertising, use of language that offends community sentiments, obscene content, and false superiority claims about food products. The draft meticulously outlines conditions for advertising, including nutrition and no-salt claims, use of additives, health support claims, and prohibited claims. It also details the process for handling advertising complaints and the penalties for non-compliance. Read: Ghorer Bazar offers safe food products, focusing on health, sustainability Abdul Qayyum Sarkar, Chairman of the BFSA, chaired the meeting and encouraged the integration of stakeholder feedback into the final regulations. The session featured discussions led by notable participants, including Rezaul Karim, former BFSA member, and Nazma Begum, who delivered the welcoming address. Highlighting the regulations' objectives, Nazma Begum stated, "These regulations aim to halt misleading or inaccurate advertisements by considering consumer demands and adhering to Codex principles." Read: Ensure safe food: Food minister Professor Razia Begum of Dhaka University's Department of Marketing emphasized the importance of strict enforcement and broad media dissemination post-implementation. The event saw active participation from representatives of various food establishments, who contributed their insights, with the BFSA assuring consideration of all input received. Nazneen Akhter, a scientific officer at the BFSA, presented the keynote, while the meeting was moderated by Sheikh Ferdous Arafat, a law officer at the authority. This initiative represents a critical step toward enhancing food safety standards and consumer trust in Bangladesh. Read more: First 'Safe Food Carnival' in the country starts from Feb 8

Members of the Executive Committee (EC) of Bangladesh Foreign Service Association (BFSA) led by its President and Additional Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam visited Tungipara, Gopalganj on Wednesday and paid their respect to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. They placed a wreath on the Mausoleum of the Father of the Nation and took part in a recitation of Fatiha and prayers. The EC reiterated their commitment to the principle of Bangladesh's foreign policy as guided by Father of the Nation in his vision of "Friendship to all, and malice towards none". Also Read: BFSA donates Tk 32.50 lakh for Ashrayan project The officials expressed their commitment to establish smart diplomacy to build Smart Bangladesh as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  

Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) and Bangladesh Foreign Service Association (BFSA) handed over relief materials to Foreign Minister and lawmaker of Sylhet-1 constituency Dr AK Abdul Momen. The handover ceremony was held at the state guest house the Padma in the capital on Tuesday afternoon. BPMCA president MA Mobin Khan handed over 50,000 packets of dry foods worth 20 lakh. The packets included rice, lentil, fried rice, salt, sugar, powdered milk, saline, and water purification tablets. Also Read: Flood claims 22 lives in Sylhet division in 7 days, says divisional health director On the other hand, BFSA president Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury handed over a cheque of Tk 5 lakh to the foreign minister.  Dr Momen thanked the BPMCA and BFSA for their contribution to the people of Sylhet during this natural disaster. He specially thanked Bangladesh Private Medical College Association for sending a medical team to the flood-affected areas.

In order to safeguard public health, the draft regulations on “Limiting Trans Fatty Acid in Food Products Regulations, 2021”has been uploaded for public consultation on the website of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (http://www.bfsa.gov.bd/).

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) will unveil its draft policy on Monday seeking public opinion before finalising the guideline to regulate the use of industrially-produced trans fat in the food supply.

A by-product of a process called hydrogenation that is used to turn healthy oils into solids, Trans Fatty Acid (TFA), commonly known as trans fat, has now emerged as a deadly threat to life on Earth and Bangladesh as well.

Bangladesh Foreign Service Association (BFSA) has demanded justice over the attack on Wahida Khanam identifying the actual reasons behind such a brutal attack.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday emphasised on ensuring safe food to improve the living standards of the people of the country and build a prosperous nation.