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Training of mobile food vendors-Mobile food vendors committed to selling safe and healthy food

You can't find people who haven't bought food from street food vendors or mobile food vendors. Some people buy a variety of delicacies from them as a hobby while many rely on traveling food vendors for their daily market. But many mobile food vendors show weaknesses in selling healthy food items. As a result, food risk is created for the city dwellers. Only in Dhaka city a significant number of people are admitted to the hospital every day suffering from diarrhea or cholera. One of the reasons is unhealthy food or drink. Considering the health risks of the city dwellers, it is necessary to bring the mobile food vendors under the training of healthy food sales and to monitor whether they are selling food properly.

Taking these issues into consideration, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has undertaken a three-month pilot project under the 'Dhaka Food System' project. Under this, a database of 100 food vendors of Bhasani Road, Ward 5, Dhaka North City Corporation has been created and they have been brought under training on hygiene and hygiene in their food. It is a joint venture between Dhaka North City Corporation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and is working as a partner in implementing the Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust program. Speakers at the 'Training of Safe and Healthy Food Vendors' organized by Ward 5 Councilor's Office, Dhaka North City Corporation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust on 15 September 2021 at 10.30 am. Spoke.

Joynal Abedin, National Project Co-ordinator to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said that we are working to bring mobile food vendors under one management. As there is no database of mobile food vendors, we are not able to bring you under training even if we want to. We are working with Dhaka North City Corporation to bring you under one license. This will allow you to be trained to prepare food in a safe and healthy way and you will not have to leave the business.

Member of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Prof. Dr. Abdul Alim was present as an expert in the training. In his speech, he stressed the need to prepare food in a safe and healthy way, saying that if food is infected with germs, people will get sick and will not want to buy food from you. This will damage your business. Even if you have a small business, you have a lot of responsibilities. So you also have to keep an eye on the business area to keep it clean, cook food at the right temperature, store food below 5 degrees Celsius, keep all the ingredients used in cooking clean, etc.

John Taylor, chief technical adviser to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said, "On an average, you sell food to about 3,000 people every day. You are contributing to keeping them healthy by selling food in a safe and healthy way. When you cook and sell food in a clean way, the locals will feel safe. We want your well-being, not just your customers. So we have organized this training.

Ziaur Rahman, senior project officer of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust conducted the training program and as trainer Naima Akhter, project officer of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust performing the training. He highlighted the need to prevent foodborne infections among mobile food vendors. Keep food stalls clean, use government-approved pesticides and insect repellents, refrain from using harmful dyes and substandard products, keep all materials, utensils, clean clothes clean, use detergent and hot water He emphasizes on cleaning utensils. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining personal hygiene.

Mobile food vendors on Bhasani Road participated in the training program. They promised to sell food in a healthy way after the training. At the end of the workshop, all participants were given masks and baskets for throwing dirt.