The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) stated today that they will conduct research into the general food items used by Maldivians and that it will show the types of chemicals the food and drink have.

MFDA's Food and Quality Assurance Coordinator Khalisa Mohamed told Mihaaru News that they are developing testing methods in testing the food grown on fields. With that, Khalisa said that a Total Diet Study (study into what Maldivians generally eat) will be conducted and that they will work to identify the chemicals within the food.

Khalisa went on to say that they have coordinated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in making a proposal and that the Ministry of Finance and Planning are working to procure funding for the proposal.

Along with that, she also said that they will work together with the Maldives National University (MNU) to conduct a survey into the food that is consumed by Maldivians.

The public has expressed concerns that the cancer rates in Maldives have gone up due to the chemicals in the food and drink. However, Maldives has not gathered any information that can ascertain this concern.

Khalisa stated that after research into contamination is done, it will identify which chemicals cause cancer.

These efforts are essential work to be done by the MFDA under the law.

Khalisa said that after funding is secured, all these efforts will begin.

The MFDA conducts random sampling of the current food and drink items in the market. However, after testing methods are developed, Khalisa said that they will be able to conduct tests on the food items after it is grown on Maldivian crops and before it is released onto the market.