The chairman of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has called on the public to avoid using reused cooking oil, warning that it poses serious risks to both human health and the environment.
“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to live on this earth. If we want to live a healthy life, we must eliminate the use of used oil,” BFSA Chairman (Additional Charge) Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar said as chief guest at an awareness seminar on Sunday.
The seminar titled “Harmful Effects of Used Cooking Oil on Human Health and the Environment” was jointly organised by BFSA and Muenzer Bangla Private Limited at the authority’s training room.
Trans fat causing 278,000 deaths annually
Presenting the keynote paper, BFSA member Professor Mohammad Shoaib said 278,000 people die every year worldwide due to consumption of industrial trans fat. Trans fat accumulates in blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack.
Research shows that approximately 59 out of every 100,000 people in Bangladesh die from heart disease, and trans fat is deeply linked to about 4 percent of these deaths, he added.
BFSA formulated the “Trans Fatty Acids Control in Foodstuffs Regulations” in 2021, which set the maximum limit of trans fat at 2 percent and came into effect on December 31, 2022. This provision applies to all processed, packaged, and prepared foods, the professor said.
In the 2024-25 fiscal year, BFSA found excessive levels of trans fatty acids in 7 out of 11 soybean oil samples, 93 out of 95 dalda samples, 26 out of 30 butter samples, and 6 out of 14 margarine samples collected from across the country, the keynote speaker informed.
Dr Ahmed Khairul Abrar, assistant scientist at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, said used oil causes cancer, and those who fry food in used oil are also at risk of developing cancer. Using any oil more than 2-3 times is risky for health, he warned.
Speakers in the open discussion noted that instead of reusing cooking oil directly in food, it can be collected and used to produce biodiesel, which would both protect public health and contribute to sustainable development.
Deputy Director Md Ruhul Amin said that during the holy month of Ramadan, BFSA conducted 720 monitoring activities and informed businessmen about the harmful effects of used oil.
Representatives of various government and private institutions, food businessmen, researchers, and media personnel attended the seminar.
