BAU opens new course in food safety management

The Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) is going to introduce a new undergraduate course in food safety management from next year. The university is partnering with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) to train new generations of food safety experts, says a media release. The course is being developed with the financial assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Ali Akbar said: “The new BSc course will deliver a tailored and proportionate approach to food business compliance.” Md Mahfuzul Hoque, chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, said: “In order to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding food processing and manufacturing sector, we need technically qualified and professionally competent safe food officers to verify compliance with food regulations. “This new course in food safety management will ensure that we have a steady supply of qualified graduates to satisfy the requirements of the official food control sector.” Referring to the Food Safety Act 2013, DIT representative Fintan Moran said: "We need to train students in the requirements of international food regulations and modern methods of food control.” "Choosing to specialise in food safety is probably one of the smartest career investments a student can pursue in Bangladesh," FAO's representative Dr Sue Lautze said. FAO is pleased to partner with BAU and DIT on this exciting initiative, he added.