Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday urged unscrupulous businesses to end adulterating food and playing games with people’s lives.

“Don’t play games with people’s lives, save our future generation. Be honest and patriot,” he said at a programme on grade distribution ceremony of hotel, restaurant, bakery and sweet factories in Dhaka.

The minister also called upon restaurant owners to serve safe foods.

“We’re now demanding nutritious and safe food. Once, we only wanted meals to fill our bellies but now, [thanks to improved production] we’re demanding safe food,” Sadhan Chandra said.

Describing the recent Awami League council’s manifesto, he said, “Safe food and eliminating the use of drugs have been emphasised in the new manifesto. We all have to work together to ensure safe food and eliminate the use of drugs.”

He said Imams, teachers and the media can play important roles in raising awareness about safe food. The minister said the city corporations can arrange programmes with the business community every month in this regard.

“We will set up Safe Food Authority’s office in every district by 2021,” he said.

In the event, 23 hotels got certificates. Of them, 14 got “A” grade and nine “B” based on food quality. Seven others got ‘C’ grade. They were sent letters to improve their food quality.

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Chairman Syeda Sarwar Jahan, food Secretary Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association President Khandaker Ruhul Aminwere, among others, were present.