KATHMANDU, Sept 30: Stakeholders have urged people to prioritize nutritious, safe and hygienic food during the upcoming festivals, warning that unhealthy eating, food adulteration and improper meat storage could pose health risks.
The call was made at a multi-stakeholder nutrition dialogue organized in Lalitpur by the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal (ACORAB) in collaboration with World Vision International Nepal. Participants said safe and nutritious food should be prioritized everywhere, including flood-affected areas.
Manoj Thapa, vice-chair of the National Consumer Forum Bagmati Province, warned that some popular food products could be harmful to health. Citing adulteration and quality concerns involving artificial rice, dairy products, clarified butter and honey, he urged consumers to check food prices and quality and, where possible, prepare food at home.
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Dr Hem Raj Awasthi, president of the Nepal Veterinary Council, urged caution when consuming meat during festivals. He said improper storage temperatures can increase the risk of food poisoning and disease and stressed hygiene throughout the meat chain, from production and slaughter to sale, transportation and storage.
Awasthi said meat should be properly chilled or frozen, with extra care during power cuts. He suggested managed slaughterhouses away from residential areas and refrigerated vehicles for meat transportation. He also advised washing meat with clean, cold water before cooking, but warned against using the washing water with other food.
Devendra Barma, deputy mayor of Pyuthan Municipality, said consumption of traditional nutritious foods such as gundruk, dhido, sisnu, millet and buckwheat is declining as pizza, burgers and energy drinks become more popular. He said community information networks could help promote healthy diets and added that local governments are monitoring, regulating and taking action on food-related issues.
Religious leaders were also asked about what their religions say about eating meat, methods of slaughter and the safe storage period for meat during festivals. They also discussed food-related cultural and religious practices. Awasthi reiterated the need for proper chilling or freezing and extra caution where power supply is unreliable.
Participants, including students, journalists and members of the public, also raised concerns about changing eating habits, saying traditional nutritious foods are increasingly being replaced by pizza, burgers and energy drinks.
Participants urged consumers to check food quality, expiry dates, storage conditions and hygiene when shopping during festivals. They also called for greater awareness among students and parents about the short- and long-term health risks of excessive junk-food consumption.
