PATNA: If you thought leading brands of paan masala like Rajnigandha and Manikchand don't contain nicotine, as they claim, give a second thought to it. The state food safety commissioner cum health secretary, Sanjay Kumar, has issued an order to test them for nicotine content after Union health ministry submitted a Central Tobacco Research Institute report recently in the Supreme Court confirming presence of nicotine in them.
Kumar said on Monday he has asked all designated officers and food safety officers to collect samples of all leading paan brands. He said, "Ten samples of leading brands of paan masala would be retested for nicotine. If they are found to contain nicotine, they, too, would be prohibited to effectively impose the ban on tobacco products in the state."
As per the report of Andhra Pradesh-based research institute submitted to the apex court, gutka (Goa 1000), gutka RMD (Manikchand), paan masala (Rajnigandha) and khaini (Chaini Khaini) and khaini (Raja) contain 2.04%, 1.88%, 2.26%, 0.58% and 1.02% nicotine respectively.
The state government banned the sale, distribution and production of nicotine containing products from May this year, based on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulation no 2.3.4 notified in August 2011.
Deepak Mishra, executive director of an NGO, SEEDS, said if these products are found containing nicotine, they must be banned with immediate effect. He added, "After the ban on gutka products, the sale of leading paan masala brands, which people think don't contain nicotine, has increased alarmingly."
Tobacco consumption is the causative factor in 40% cancer cases, the maximum by any factor. According to a survey, 53.5% people in Bihar use tobacco, highest in the country. According to experts, nicotine affects all organs of body from head to toe.
Noted surgeon Dr A A Hai on Monday said, "The most common cancers caused by tobacco are the ones of oral cavity and upper aerodigestive tract. Bronchitis is another common disease caused which causes problems in breathing. Apart from that, eyes, lungs, abdomen, blood, heart vessels and urinary tract are also affected." He added what added to the misery of the suffering families was the high cost of treatment. Pregnant women should avoid tobacco products, especially because that can affect foetus. The consumption of tobacco can also affect reproductive health of both males and females, he said.
Kumar said on Monday he has asked all designated officers and food safety officers to collect samples of all leading paan brands. He said, "Ten samples of leading brands of paan masala would be retested for nicotine. If they are found to contain nicotine, they, too, would be prohibited to effectively impose the ban on tobacco products in the state."
As per the report of Andhra Pradesh-based research institute submitted to the apex court, gutka (Goa 1000), gutka RMD (Manikchand), paan masala (Rajnigandha) and khaini (Chaini Khaini) and khaini (Raja) contain 2.04%, 1.88%, 2.26%, 0.58% and 1.02% nicotine respectively.
The state government banned the sale, distribution and production of nicotine containing products from May this year, based on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulation no 2.3.4 notified in August 2011.
Deepak Mishra, executive director of an NGO, SEEDS, said if these products are found containing nicotine, they must be banned with immediate effect. He added, "After the ban on gutka products, the sale of leading paan masala brands, which people think don't contain nicotine, has increased alarmingly."
Tobacco consumption is the causative factor in 40% cancer cases, the maximum by any factor. According to a survey, 53.5% people in Bihar use tobacco, highest in the country. According to experts, nicotine affects all organs of body from head to toe.
Noted surgeon Dr A A Hai on Monday said, "The most common cancers caused by tobacco are the ones of oral cavity and upper aerodigestive tract. Bronchitis is another common disease caused which causes problems in breathing. Apart from that, eyes, lungs, abdomen, blood, heart vessels and urinary tract are also affected." He added what added to the misery of the suffering families was the high cost of treatment. Pregnant women should avoid tobacco products, especially because that can affect foetus. The consumption of tobacco can also affect reproductive health of both males and females, he said.
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