Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque on Thursday (January 12) said there is no public health risk in consuming broiler chicken.
"Broiler chicken is a safe and there is no public health risk in consuming the chicken. There were many rumors about consuming broiler chicken. It is an inexpensive and easy source of protein. "
Brushing aside the allegations he said, "The reports about health risk in consuming the broiler chicken is completely baseless."
The minister came up with the assertion while disclosing findings of a research at the Secretariat here.
Funded by the Agriculture Ministry, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) conducted the study on 315 samples collected from 1,200 broiler chickens and 30 broiler chicken feeds from across the country to know about the presence of 10 antibiotics and three heavy metals, said a press release.
Dr Md Abdur Razzaque said that the study found the nominal presence of two antibiotics - oxytetracycline and doxycycline - and three heavy metals - arsenic, chromium and lead - in the broiler chicken, which is much below the maximum tolerable level.
The level of antibiotics and lead in bones, liver and kidney as well as in broiler feed was also found lower than the highest tolerable level, he added.
Razzaque put emphasize on making the broiler chicken popular among the people to meet the protein demand as well as build a healthy, capable and meritorious nation.
