Food Minister urges public-private co-op to ensure nutritious food for all

Food Minister Afroza Khanam has called for stronger cooperation between the government and the private sector to ensure safe and nutritious food for all citizens, stressing the need for joint efforts to improve nutrition, particularly among women and children.

She made the call at a seminar organised by the Fortification Alliance of Bangladesh (FAB) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital on Wednesday. The seminar was titled “Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships for Fortification in Bangladesh”.

Afroza Khanam said food was a basic human need and a universal human right, adding that the state had a constitutional responsibility to meet the basic needs of its citizens.

She stressed the need to expand food fortification, which involves adding vitamins and minerals to food to improve its nutritional value. Better coordination among organisations, greater public awareness and practical action plans were needed to improve nutrition, particularly among women and children, she said.