A recent study by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, and IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network) found the presence of high levels of sugar in Nestlé's baby food sold in underdeveloped and developing countries around the world. This terrible information was revealed when samples of the company’s baby food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America were sent to a Belgian laboratory for testing. Cerelac and Nido are very popular among Nestle’s baby foods in different countries of the world including Bangladesh. Terrible information has revealed about these two products that are among the most sold. A study by Public Eye and IBFAN, found the presence of high levels of sugar in Nestle’s baby food sold in underdeveloped and developing countries around the world. However, no added sugar is added to the same baby food sold by Nestle in the UK, Switzerland and other developed countries. According to the Public Eye report, Nestle does not use extra sugar marketed in Switzerland, but it is adding additional sugar to developing and poor countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Thailand. This is a violation of international principles on the prevention of obesity and chronic diseases.

The sudden decision by McDonald's to take over ownership of its branches in Israel has thrust the franchise company Alonyal and its chief executive Omri Padan into the spotlight. McDonald's will buy back all of its Israeli restaurants after global sales slumped due to a boycott of the brand over its perceived support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. The fast-food giant uses a franchise system which means that individual operators are licensed to run outlets and employ staff. But the broader company came in for criticism after Mr Padan offered free meals to Israeli forces around the start of the Israel-Gaza war on 7 October. A boycott was sparked after Muslim-majority countries such as Kuwait, Malaysia and Pakistan issued statements distancing themselves from the firm for what they saw as support of Israel. Mr Padan, however, is not new to controversy related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the 30 years the businessman has been operating restaurants for McDonald's in Israel, he has been at the centre of a number of disputes. In 2013, the Israeli businessman angered Israel's settler movement when he refused calls to open a branch of the fast-food chain in the settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank. Mr Padan's company Alonyal was asked to set up a restaurant in a shopping centre but declined, saying the firm had a policy of staying out of the occupied territories. At the time, the firm said the decision had not been co-ordinated with McDonald's headquarters in the US. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land the Palestinians want as part of a future state - in the 1967 Middle East war. The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. Mr Padan is one of the founders of the group Peace Now, which opposes all settlements and views them as obstacles to peace. Peace Now says he is no longer a member of the group, which was founded in 1978. A leader of the Yesha Council, the settlers' umbrella organisation, said at the time that McDonald's had gone from being a for-profit company to one with an "anti-Israeli political agenda". Alonyal's decision resurfaced in 2019 when McDonald's won a tender to run a restaurant and hot dog stand at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport. In response, several letters of protest were sent by settlement leaders in the West Bank that called on the finance and transportation ministries, as well as the Israel airport authority, to block the move. Protests were also held outside the fast-food chain's restaurants in Tel Aviv. And on Thursday, it was abruptly announced that Alonyal would sell the sprawling franchise back to the US food giant. The terms of the deal were not disclosed by McDonald's, although a reputation management expert, who has worked on behalf a number of large companies but did not want to speak on the record, said that those outraged by the decision to offer free meals to Israeli forces may be "angry that this deal makes Mr Padan possibly a very rich man". They might be pleased though, about the effect the boycott has had. Mr Padan's departure comes after McDonald's said that the Israel-Gaza conflict had "meaningfully impacted" performance in some overseas markets in the fourth quarter of 2023. For the unit that includes the Middle East, China and India, sales growth stood at 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023 - far below market expectations. At the start of the year, McDonald's chief executive Chris Kempczinski blamed the backlash on "misinformation". The boycott was also described as "disheartening and ill-founded" by the firm, which relies on thousands of independent businesses to own and operate most of its more than 40,000 stores around the world. About 5% are located in the Middle East. The brand management expert said: "I get it. They are buying back the franchises to regain control but I'm not sure they have." They also questioned where the company might draw a line: "Does this mean [McDonald's] will now need to act and offer deals in other areas where reputational damage has been caused?" On Thursday, McDonald's said that it "remains committed to the Israeli market and to ensuring a positive employee and customer experience in the market going forward." It also thanked Alonyal for building the brand in Israel, while Mr Padan said: "We are encouraged by what the future holds." BBC News did not receive further comment from Mr Padan or Alonyal through McDonald's.   Source: BBC

On 22nd March 2024 , 200 underprivileged families residing in the rural areas of seven unions in Bakshiganj Upazila received Ramadan food packages. The initiative aimed to alleviate the struggles faced by vulnerable households during the holy month. Bakshiganj Upazila's Nirbahi Officer, Ahona Jinnat, along with Rafiqul Islam, General Secretary Silent Hands Support and Tarikul Islam Sanvi, were present at the distribution among others. Also in attendance were Mohammad Alauddin, Mahmudul Hasan, Tanvir Hasan, and Minhaj Uddin, the regional representative of Silent Hands Support  from Jamalpur district. Expressing her gratitude, Ahona Jinnat emphasized the importance of community support in ensuring that no one goes hungry during Ramadan. She highlighted the collaborative efforts of individuals and organizations in extending a helping hand to those in need, particularly in the remote areas where resources are scarce. In a heartfelt message, Tahamina Ahammed Tania(Tajj Momo) the founder of the organisation ,expressed her profound gratitude to all the volunteers and donors who made the distribution possible. She stated, "During this blessed month of Ramadan, let us remember the importance of compassion and generosity towards those in need. Together, through acts of kindness, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this noble cause." The recipients expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the timely assistance, expressing hope for more collaborative efforts to uplift the underprivileged segments of society. As the holy month progresses, initiatives like these serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the power of compassion and collective action in creating a more equitable society.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned not to hold Iftar party on a large scale at government expense during the holy month of Ramadan. At the same time, the head of the government has discouraged organizing such iftar parties privately. The directives came from a cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday (Feb 28). Cabinet Secretary, Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters after the meeting. Responding to a question Mahbub Hossain said that private iftar parties have also been discouraged by PM. She also said that if anyone wants to hold such events then they should buy food with that money and distribute it among the poor people.

Bangladesh has ranked third among food importing countries for importing around 12.5 million tonnes of food products from the global market in 2021, according to the latest report of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)'s recently published World Food and Agriculture Annual Statistical Booklet 2023, Bangladesh produced around 93.3 million tonnes of agricultural produce in 2021.  China ranks first in food imports, while the Philippines comes up second. In the same year, the country imported around 12.5 million tons of food products from the global market. The highest food import expenditure is still made on wheat, edible oil, and milk powder. Indicating that the cost of import-dependent food products in Bangladesh is high, FAO mentioned that the per capita consumption of edible oil, meat, milk, and such nutritious food is the lowest. However, the per capita consumption of food produced in the country, like rice, vegetables, fish, and fruit is good. In this category, the people of Bangladesh are ahead in calorie consumption, the report said. Commenting on the data, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque told the media: "We have taken the initiative to increase the production of import-dependent food products. Production of edible oil, onions, and lentils is increasing as a result of innovating new varieties and providing incentives to the farmers. We hope these agricultural products will curb Bangladesh's dependence on imported agricultural products." The FAO report, however, highlighted that Bangladesh has fallen behind in food exports. The top five countries in food exports are, in order, the US, UK, Germany, China and France. Bangladesh is near the bottom.

Washington's decision to resume food assistance comes after Ethiopia agreed to allow monitoring of food supplies. Deliveries were halted earlier this year as the US said the deliveries were being stolen. The United States said it is going to resume delivering food aid for people in Ethiopia next month after the government allowed monitoring the distribution. The US had halted the food aid to Ethiopia earlier this year as Washington said the deliveries were being stolen and were not reaching the intended recipients. Last month, it began distributing food packages but only to refugees in the country. Food deliveries will restart next month for an initial trial period of one year, during which the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said it would will ascertain whether the government keeps its promises. In June, USAID had paused all food assistance to Ethiopia alleging a "widespread and coordinated" campaign to divert donations.  The UN and the World Food Programme took similar steps, citing the same reasons. The US has not named any individuals behind the diversions but aid organizations have accused both the federal and regional authorities, with soldiers benefitting from resale of donated food. Ethiopia's government engaged in a major internal conflict between 2020 and 2022 causing major food shortages not just in the most severely affected Tigray region, but elsewhere too, and putting strains on its military.  What would change in Ethiopia? USAID in a statement said that Washington was resuming food aid across the country after significant diplomatic engagement over the last several months resulted in "widespread and substantial reforms of the food assistance structure by the government of Ethiopia and our humanitarian partners." The World Food Programme also resumed some deliveries to Ethiopia last month. Ethiopia has agreed to change how its government will operate alongside aid organizations and intends to improve the partners' ability to identify beneficiaries, USAID said. It also committed to providing seamless access for the agency and third-party monitors to review sites throughout the country. "USAID places the highest priority on taking every possible measure to make sure that US humanitarian assistance is used for its intended purpose, reaches the most vulnerable, and ultimately saves lives," USAID statement said.

King Charles III launches the Coronation Food Project on his birthday. He announced it by appearing on the cover of the Big Issue magazine for the homeless. Britain's King Charles celebrates his 75th birthday on Tuesday. He will use the occasion to officially launch the Coronation Food Project to tackle food poverty and reduce waste. With his wife, Queen Camilla, Charles is going to spend his birthday visiting a surplus food distribution center. He will also meet with major British supermarkets to see how his project can help redistribute food that would otherwise go to waste. Charles, who held a celebratory event for other individuals and organizations also turning 75 on Monday, will also host a reception on Tuesday to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives as part of events marking 75 years of the National Health Service. What has Charles said about the project? The Coronation Food Project, which aims to stop people going hungry, has already been announced in The Big Issue magazine, which is usually sold by street vendors, many of whom are homeless. In his article for the magazine, the King wrote: "For many years, I have been deeply concerned about the amount of food which goes to waste across our nation. At every stage of the food production process, millions of tonnes of food are sadly discarded." "Food need is as real and urgent a problem as food waste — and if a way could be found to bridge the gap between them, then it would address two problems in one," Charles said. "It is my great hope that this Coronation Food Project will find practical ways to do just that — rescuing more surplus food, and distributing it to those who need it most," he added. Food insecurity in Britain According to the project, 14 million people in Britain face food insecurity, and the rising cost of living has pushed even more into food poverty. Charities say there has been a 38% rise in those using food banks for the first time in the year to March 2023. The Coronation Food Project aims to support the delivery of 200 million meals to people experiencing food insecurity in the UK. King Charles's own history with The Big Issue goes back decades. He opened a magazine's office not long after the organization was founded in the 1990s.  Charles's son, the Prince of Wales, William, sold The Big Issue undercover last year and also appeared on the cover to mark his 40th birthday.

A second convoy of humanitarian aid trucks has begun the process of crossing into Gaza, according to multiple news agencies. A convoy of 17 aid trucks was allowed to enter Gaza from Egypt on Sunday, Egypt's state-run media reported. It was the second shipment into the territory since Israel imposed a complete siege two weeks ago. AFP news agency described how the first fuel trucks entered the Palestinian enclave Sunday since the violence unfolded two weeks ago. Six trucks with fuel to power generators at two hospitals crossed from Egypt, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and an Egyptian source told AFP. Hospital personnel in Gaza have reported that doctors have been performing procedures by the light of cellphones in recent days due to severe fuel shortages. Residents of the Palestinian territory have been under an almost total Israeli blockade, including the halting of water and power supplies, since the Islamist Hamas militant group launched a terror attack in southern Israel on October 7. Cindy McCain, the head of the UN World Food Program (WFP) told ABC's "This Week" program that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was catastrophic. She called for aid agencies to be given secure, sustainable access to the enclave, which she said was a war zone.

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) & The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) Sign mmemorandum of understanding (MoU). Denmark and Bangladesh further strengthen their partnership with signing of a MoU to create new collaboration for food safety and sustainable food production.  Denmark and Bangladesh have had a long standing partnership and a mutual desire to continue cooperation in the food and agricultural sector for the benefit of both countries, as established in the “Sustainable and Green Framework Engagement” between the two nations. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Food, in the presence of Mr. Md. Ismiel Hossain ndc, Secretary, Ministry of Food; Mr. Md. Abdul Kayowm Sarker, Chairman, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and Mr. Anders Karlsen, Chargé d-Affaires a.i. at the Embassy of Denmark in Dhaka, and Ms Maria Knudsen, Sector Counsellor at the Embassy, solidifying the commitment of both countries to continue their close cooperation in the food and agricultural sector and collaborate on vital matters related to food safety management and sustainable food production. The MoU aims to foster a strategic sector cooperation and enhance scientific, technical, and regulatory collaboration within food safety and sustainable food productions between two trusted and amicable nations. Through this partnership, both countries seek to collaborate on multiple initiatives that leverage their unique expertise, technologies, and resources to deliver innovative solutions for safe food and sustainable agriculture practices.  The Secretary of Ministry of Food Mr. Md. Ismiel Hossain ndc stated, “The MoU signing is really a great milestone in the journey of ensuring food safety in Bangladesh.  This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance food safety standards and regulatory practices in Bangladesh.”  Mr. Md. Abdul Kayowm Sarker, the Chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority said, “As we strive to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens, this collaboration will enable us to adopt best practices, learn from international experiences, and implement evidence-based strategies to address the evolving challenges in the food safety landscape. Our joint efforts will undoubtedly result in safer food for our consumers and further bolster our reputation in the global food market.”  “Denmark and Bangladesh have had a close relationship throughout the last 50 years. We are happy to take this relationship an important step further with this MoU, with an in-depth collaboration to create a more sustainable and safe food production” said Mr. Karlsen. By creating collaboration between governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society organizations, the primary focus is to ensure food safety as a critical step to addressing the challenges of food loss and waste while implementing measures to enhance overall resource efficiency in agricultural, livestock, and fisheries production. Ms. Maria Stein Knudsen, Sector Counselor for Food and Agriculture at the Danish Embassy, also present during the signing said “Bangladesh and Denmark are both two proud agriculture and food-producing countries. We are facing a global challenge ensuring safe and nutritious food, while also creating a more sustainable production. Denmark and the DVFA look forward to working together with BFSA on reaching these goals for food safety and sustainability.” 

Enjoy a delicious and healthy Soya Chili recipe made with soybeans. This vegetarian dish is easy to make and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Ingredients: 1 cup soya chunks, soaked and drained 1 onion, chopped 2 green chillies, chopped 1 tomato, chopped 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup oil Instructions: Over medium heat, preheat the oil in the pan. 5 minutes should be enough time to soften the onion after adding it. Cook for one further minute after adding the green chilies. After adding the ginger-garlic paste, simmer for another minute. About 5 minutes after adding the tomato, it should be soft. Salt, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, and turmeric powder should be added. Cook for one minute while stirring continually. Stir in the soya chunks to coat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the soya chunks are heated through. Serve hot with rice or roti. Tips: More red chilli powder can be used to make a meal hotter. If you don't have soya chunks, you can use tofu or tempeh instead. Serve with your favorite toppings, such as chopped cilantro, onions, or peanuts.   Health Benefits: Soya chunks are a good source of protein, fiber, and iron. Additionally, they have less calories and fat. This dish is a great option for vegetarians and vegans who are looking for a healthy and satisfying meal. Enjoy!