A 'mini lab' has been inaugurated at the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority office to assess food quality and ensure safe food in a short time.
Ali Imam Majumder, Food Adviser, inaugurated the mini-lab at the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority office on Tuesday.
Earlier, he visited the mobile laboratory of the Food Safety Authority.
Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Mini Lab of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority's Capacity Building Project, Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said: "Various types of infrastructure are being developed to ensure safe food. This laboratory is a part of that. Through this, we will be able to expand safe food activities further."
He further said: "I hope we can focus more on ensuring that everyone has access to safe food and that no one has health problems due to food."
The food Adviser said that emphasis will be placed on increasing public awareness, increasing social awareness, and enforcing laws to ensure safe food.
Special guest Food Secretary Md Masudul Hasan, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Chairman Zakaria presided over the event.
What kind of tests will be done in the 'Mini Lab'?
This mini lab will detect the presence of pesticides in dried fish, levels of pesticides in vegetables and fruits, and the presence levels of harmful potassium bromate in bread and heavy metals in food products.
In addition, other tests can be conducted appropriately, including the presence of artificial colours in food, the presence of antibiotic residues in milk, toxins levels in honey, the identification of microbes in food products, the determination of lactogens in baby food, the presence and amount of salmonella, coliform and other bacteria in food.
Types of equipment use in the mini laboratory:
High-performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GCMS), Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (|CP-MS), UV-VIS Spectrophotometer, ELISA Reader, Elisa Washer PH Meter, Analytical Balance (4 digit), Multi-Centrifuge Machine, Biohazard Safety Cabinet, Chemical Storage Cabinet, Autoclave Digital, Incubator, Circulating Water Bath, Stomacher.
Also have Vortex Mixer, Distilled Water Plant, Ultrapure Water purification system, Accelerated Solvent Extractor, Microwave Digestion System, Refrigerator, Deep Freezer, Hot air oven (Sterilizer), Membrane filtration unit/Vacuum, Filtration with Vacuum Pump.
Regarding the mini-lab, communication officer of the Food Safety Authority, said, Md Hasnat, said: "Already we have 8 mobile labs. Now our own mini lab has been set up in our office. This lab has high-quality machinery. As a result, it will be possible to quickly determine food quality, ensure safe food and take action according to the law if food is adulterated. It will be possible to monitor and take appropriate instructions and measures.
It's known that the Food Safety Authority has 8 mobile labs in 8 departments.
Through these, it is possible to collect samples of various food products and test them immediately.
