Public health campaigners and researchers at a discussion on Wednesday urged the government to ensure fortification of vitamin A with the edible oil according to the law.
They also demanded that the government should incorporate the fortification of vitamin D mandatorily by enacting a new law like the vitamin A, said a press release.
The National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and the research and advocacy organisation PROGGA organised the event at the closing of a two-day workshop for journalists held at BMA Bhaban in Dhaka.
National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute鈥檚 epidemiology and research department head professor Sohel Reza Choudhury urged the authorities to ban the sale of loose edible oil in open drums to ensure safe Vitamin 鈥楢鈥�-fortified edible oil for all.
According to the National Micronutrient Survey 2011-12, one out of five preschool-aged children suffers from vitamin 鈥楢鈥� deficiency while every two out of five children suffer from vitamin 鈥楧鈥� deficiency.
Marketing edible oil without Vitamin 鈥楢鈥� fortification is a punishable offense according to the Vitamin 鈥楢鈥� Enrichment in Edible Oils Act 2013.
Speakers, however, alleged that the law was not enforced for the failure of the agencies concerned.
According to a study conducted by icddr,b in 2017, 65 per cent of the total edible oil sold in Bangladesh is marketed in drums, of which, 59 per cent does not contain Vitamin 鈥楢鈥� and 34 percent is poorly vitamin 鈥楢鈥�-fortified. Only 7 per cent of the bulk oil sold in drums meets the standard as per the law.
Vitamin 鈥楢鈥� deficiency causes physiological issues that include blindness, maternal death during pregnancy, and others.
Vitamin 鈥楧鈥� deficiency, on the other hand, causes rickets, leads to a loss of bone density and increases the chances of developing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.
Among others Fakir Muhammad Munawar Hossain, director of the Directorate of National Consumers鈥� Right Protection, Ashek Mahfuz, portfolio lead for Large Scale Food Fortification and Value Chain, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA were present at the event as discussants.
