A study on consumer′s awareness of chemically treated fruits of Dhaka city in Bangladesh

3^rd International Conference on Food Chemistry & Nutrition

May 16-18, 2018 | Montreal, Canada

Md. Faruque Hossain

American International University-Bangladesh, Bangladesh

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Exp Food Chem

Abstract :

Use of chemical in food and food adulteration has always been a long-standing issue of consumer in both developed and developing countries. Many different government bodies in segregated geographical regions instated laws and regulations in order to protect consumers from harmful effects of consuming toxic foods. The citizens of Bangladesh, however, are still in danger of consuming foods which are chemically treated with hazardous materials (such as calcium carbide, sodium cyclamate, cyanide and formalin, etc.). Adulteration of foods has become a national issue. Many different national newspapers are constantly reporting the use of malicious substances fruits, vegetables, fish, foods and foods stuffs. This problem is not only ignoring the human rights for safer food but also endangering public health seriously with numerous acute and chronic diseases. Our future generation will be seriously affected with vulnerable physical and mental growth inflicted by food adulteration; therefore, the research illustrates consumers� awareness of adulterated food items through a questionnaire of 950 respondents at Dhaka. The collected data was coded using SPSS Version 17 and analyzed for frequency distribution, cross tabulation and correlation analysis. Regression analysis was further used to analyze associate relationship between dependent variable and the independent variable. The results showed strong relationship between the dependable variable (awareness level) and the independent variables; i.e. sources of information (r=0.93, p<.001), awareness of chemical booths (r=0.88, p<.001) and awareness of laws (r=0.82, p<.001). However, it is concluded that consumption of adulterated food items severely affects the human health by producing many acute and chronic diseases; hence, it is very urgent to stop food adulteration. The Government of the People�s Republic of Bangladesh should eradicate the practices of food adulteration to save the lives of citizens and hundreds of laws in the country including the new anti-formalin act 2014, but not many of them are enforced properly. Government should enact and implement these laws to ensure safe food without delay. Checking at the retail level not only will bring enough positive impacts but the whole supply chain from the producers and importers through wholesalers to retailers will have to be checked and cleaned. It also recommended that regular monitoring by appropriate agencies should continue it in a sustainable manner for controlling food adulteration.

Biography :

Md. Faruque Hossain is currently the Professor of American International University - Bangladesh. He obtained his Doctorate Degree in Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, UK under the British Government Scholarship. He also obtained his BSc (Honours) and MSc (Thesis Group) Degree from University of Dhaka. He has published more than 70 scientific articles in Elsevier and Canadian journals and written more than 15 books/reports for the various governmental and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Hossain received Merit Award from Earth Science Sector Natural Resources Canada for exceptional achievement in the Arctic land use change and greenhouse gas monitoring and accounting project. In May 2014, Dr Hossain received prestigious STEM Gold medallion by Coppin State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA for the best research contribution in 2nd International Symposium on Sustainable Science, Technology, Human Health and Environment for a Global Society.
Email:hossainfaruque@hotmail.com