DHAKA, June 06, 2025 (BSS) - The World Food Safety Day 2025 will be observed tomorrow across the country as elsewhere across the globe.

This year, the theme of the day is 'Food Safety: Science in Action', focusing on the role of science in research and the advancement of knowledge to ensure safe food, said a press release issued today.

Unsafe food is an increasing cause of non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure, in Bangladesh. Research suggests that food-borne diseases cost over $110 billion annually in lost productivity and healthcare expenses in low- and middle-income countries.

A recent report of the Health Sector Reform Commission said that Bangladesh is facing a nutritional crisis as diet and lifestyle-related chronic non-communicable diseases and metabolic diseases are increasingly becoming major concerns. More than one crore people die every year due to high blood pressure worldwide, and according to the World Health Organization, most of these deaths can be prevented through various policies, such as healthy diet policies.

According to the latest 'Bangladesh NCD Steps Survey, 2022', 37 percent of people consume salt with food and 13 percent eat fast food with excessive salt. This is continuously increasing the risk of developing high blood pressure.

In a response to the World Food Safety Day 2025, ABM Zubair, executive director of research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), said, "It is possible to reduce the risk of various non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure, to a large extent by developing healthy eating habits. In particular, it is necessary to reduce the amount of salt in food, as well as consume fibrous foods and vegetables in moderation. Simultaneously, the formulation and implementation of necessary laws or policies must be strengthened."