Health minister Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain on Wednesday told Jatiya Sangsad that poultry and fish feed produced from toxic tannery waste can cause cancer and other serious illnesses.

Replying to a question from BNP-backed reserved-seat lawmaker Nilofar Chowdhury Moni in 13th Jatiya Sangsad’s second session, the minister acknowledged that the use of tannery waste in animal feed poses significant public health risks.

‘Evidence has been found in various studies and reports,’ he said when asked whether poultry and fish feed made from toxic tannery waste increases the risk of cancer and other complex diseases.

The minister said that chromium and other heavy metals used in leather processing remain in tannery waste, which some dishonest businesses use to manufacture low-cost poultry and fish feed.

He said that toxic hexavalent chromium accumulates in meat and eggs of poultry fed such feed and is not destroyed during cooking.

Consumption of contaminated poultry products and fish can expose people to serious health risks, including cancer, liver cirrhosis, ulcers and kidney failure, he added.