Horrible Things You Don’t Know Are in Your Food BY MANEKA GANDHI

HOW MANY disgusting things do you eat in your food that you are not aware of? Let’s list a few based on dead insects, animal slime, vomit and faeces.

1. Many sweets, jelly beans, and chocolate products are coated in something called confectioner's glaze. Confectioner's glaze comes from the Lac bug, Laccifer lacca, a scale insect which lives as a parasite on plants, particularly banyan trees. The Lac bug is used to create a waxy, waterproof coating, called shellac, for shine on furniture and food, waxes, adhesives, paints, cosmetics, varnishes, fertilizers, medicine pills coatings and confectionery. Look for any of the following ingredients on labels to find the hidden Lac bugs in your food: candy glaze, resin glaze, natural food glaze, confectioner's glaze, confectioner's resin, Lac resin, Lacca, or gum lac.

2. Every country has come to terms with the fact that they cannot take out animals from food. So the Indian government has mandated that rat faeces are allowed in wheat and rice. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the body overseeing the protection of public health by insuring the safety of food. However, giving food companies a strange loophole to protect themselves, the FDA permits a certain degree of insects, such as worms or aphids, so long as their presence doesn't compromise the “aesthetic” quality of the food – the look! The FDA has a Defects Level Handbook which allows insect fragments, rat hair and faeces “legally” – which means you cannot sue the manufacturers of various foods, should you find insects in your food. Staples like broccoli, canned tomatoes, and hops readily contain “insect fragments”—heads, thoraxes, and legs—and even whole insects. Fig paste can harbour up to 13 insect heads in 100 grams; canned fruit juices can contain a maggot for every 250 millilitres; 10 grams of hops can be the home for 2,500 aphids . Writers at the Scientific American estimate that “an individual probably ingests about one to two pounds of flies, maggots and other bugs each year without even knowing it.” For spinach, the action limit is 50 or more aphids, thrips and/or mites per 100 grams. Beer should be reclassified as Bug Beer. The FDA’s limit on the hops that go into the tank is 2,500 aphids per 10 grams of hops. 5% of the total weight of the hops making your beer can be insects. 100 kilos of chocolate allows one kilo of insects and 100 kilos of bread can have 1.5 kilos of insect. Ten insects and 35 fruit fly eggs per 8 oz. of raisins is allowed and four rodent hairs per 100 grams in wheat, curry powder, allspice, and ground pepper. The number of whole aphids that the FDA deems permissible varies from vegetable to vegetable. 30 whole aphids/100 grams in Brussels sprouts and about 60 in frozen broccoli is permissible. 50 Corn lice or thrips are allowed in every 100 grams of canned or frozen spinach or in a package of frozen cabbage / sauerkraut. 75 white mites and 20 maggots for 100 gms of canned mushrooms. 5 fruit flies in canned fruit juice. 5 brown weevil larva in every can of peas or lobia (blackeyed peas). 10% of coffee beans are allowed to be infested with insects.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has its own way of grading food with insects in it. For cabbage, 10 aphids on a head can still equal a no.1 grading during inspection, but any presence of worms on the head (not the leaves) brings the vegetable down to a no.2 grading – still permissible to be sold but cheaper.

The Jains have been campaigning for years that tapioca (sabudana) should be banned because it has thousands of dead insects in it.

3. Rennet is a group of enzymes found in calves to digest their mothers’ milk. It is a crucial part of making commercial cheese. Rennet for cheese making is obtained by slicing up a calf's stomach, soaking it in whey and wine or vinegar, and then filtering it. Unless it says specifically on the label that rennet has not been used, you can be sure that your branded cheese has calf enzymes in it. 

4. Castoreum, a common additive, is made from beaver anal glands. Castoreum is an anal secretion beavers use to mark their territories. It smells like vanilla. Castoreum (CAS NO. 8023-83-4; FEMA NO. 2261) is an extract that is used in baked goods, especially as vanilla flavouring. The beaver is killed and the anal sacs cut off and dried in alcohol and macerated. It has been used extensively in perfumery and has been added to food as a flavour ingredient for at least 80 years and labelled as “natural flavouring”. The raw form is described as "birch tar or Russian leather."

Fernelli's Handbook Of Flavor Ingredients puts individual annual consumption of castoreum extract at .000081 mg/kg/day, in products like frozen dairy, gelatines, puddings, and non-alcoholic beverages. Castoreum extract can be used to enhance raspberry or strawberry flavourings.

5. All commercial biscuits and breads contain an amino acid, called L Cysteine, which is made from boiled and filtered human hair and duck feathers. All the hair cut from devotee heads and sold by the Tiirupati Temple Trust goes to L Cysteine manufacturers.

6. Carmine is the red pigment that is used for any cosmetics, food or drink that is red/pink in colour. 70,000 scale insects called cochineal bugs, which suck the sap from cactus, are killed, dried and crushed and used in cosmetics, wines, camparis, shampoos, sauces, sweets and food colouring for everything from sausages and crabs to pink pastries, yogurts and juices. Recently, Starbucks admitted to using the dye in their drinks. To find out if a product contains cochineal bugs, look for any of the following ingredients on the label: cochineal extract, cochineal, carmine, carminic acid, E 120 or Natural Red No. 4.10. Fish bladders are used to clarify wines, beers and food. Millions of fish are killed daily just for their bladders and these are called Isinglass.

I haven’t even started on the bee products: honey made from bee vomit for instance. Or the industrial chemicals that dye food from fish to salad dressing. Next week I will tell you about the disgusting things in your cosmetics.Animal rights and environment activist, 

Maneka Gandhi writes weekly column ‘Heads & Tails’ for the Kashmir Observer. She can be reached at: gandhim@nic.in

Vendors booked for selling banned tobacco products

 

Telling Safe Bread From Unsafe Bread

Although tests carried out by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Goa found only 4 of the 29 bread samples – three slice breads and a pizza bread – containing cancer-causing potassium bromate, concerns among consumers continue to grow. While pav samples are totally safe, the same cannot be said of the slice breads and pizza bread bases. Even though potassium bromate was found within permissible limits in the four samples, the FDA needs to do much more to assure the consumers that they are eating safe breads. The FDA has not released the names of breads whose samples were found containing potassium bromate, thus leaving the consumers in confusion about which slice breads are with and which ones without potassium bromate.

Though the permissible limit for potassium bromate (a class 2B carcinogenic generally used by commercial manufacturers) is 50 parts per million as stipulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 of India, many countries have banned its use and there is increasing demand that India too must follow suit. The governing body for food safety in the country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also declared that the use of potassium bromate would be stopped, while study on use of potassium iodate, which can cause thyroid-related problems, was under study. So far Indian regulations allow bread manufacturers to use potassium bromate in bread if it is within the permissible limit but there are hardly any checks on whether the manufacturers use it within the permissible limits or not. It is only when some non-government organisation or a private study reveals harmful contents in food products that the government agencies wake up from their slumber. The knee-jerk reaction is normally limited to seizing product samples and testing them. Government agencies have a responsibility to periodically check products for their safety. As consumption of pre-packaged foods is becoming common, agencies like the Goa FDA should constantly monitor food products sold in market so as to ensure that people consume only those foods that were free from harmful contents.

The report of the state FDA, which perhaps was the only government agency in the country to act immediately after the reports of harmful contents in breads appeared in the media following disclosure of the analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, has not served any purpose at all as far as helping the average Goan in choosing safe from unsafe bread. Some of the bread manufacturers had actually declared that they were using additives that were classified as harmful to the health of the people. There is every possibility that ready-to-use flour used for manufacture of bread could be containing the harmful additives and the bakers could be unaware about the contents of the flour. Local ‘poders’ (bakers) could genuinely be unaware of the existence of harmful chemicals in the raw material even though they use traditional method for making bread. With the Indian regulations allowing use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate the FDA cannot act against anyone using the same or selling flour or additives that were within the permissible limits. With the FSSAI set to ban the use of the two harmful additives the FDA would have its role cut out to act to ensure safer food products for Goans.

While the government agencies must ensure that the food products sold in the market were safe for consumption, the general public too has a role to play in eating foods that were free from harmful contents. It is for the consumers to check the labels for the list of ingredients added to the foods, be they pav, sliced bread, pizza or any other prepackaged food to ascertain the contents of the food they choose to eat. The people should make themselves familiar about what is safer for them to eat and try to gain knowledge through various means including internet. Though the government agencies like FDA and health department should check the food products regularly it might be physically impossible for the government agencies to keep a tab on all the food manufacturers at all the time and hence there is need for vigilance and caution on the part of the consumers. The government, particularly the health department and the FDA, must constantly organize programmes to raise the awareness on food safety and consumption of foods that were free from harmful additives. Lists of harmful additives and the effect on health that could be there with consumption of these chemicals should be published periodically so as to warn public to avoid them.

Bakers fear threat to their daily bread

Food safety officials collect samples of various bread brands

Food safety officials have lifted samples of various bread brands from across the State to check for potassium bromate or potassium iodate to make the bread softer and fluffier than what the flour can.

This is in view of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently releasing its study findings that these health-risk agents are being used extensively in breads.

Dip in sale

The All Kerala Mechanised Bakery Owners Association has claimed that the CSE report has triggered a 50 per cent dip in the sale of breads across the State.

It has vehemently denied using these agents, asserting that the flour used was enough to achieve quality.

The CSE report had said that 84 per cent of bread and bakery samples tested by the organisation were found to have residues of potassium bromate and potassium iodate.

While the Food Safety Standards Authority of India restricts the use of potassium bromate and iodate to 50 ppm (parts per million), the suspicion is that this rule is only flouted.

Denies charge

“We do not do indulge in such violation in Kerala,” Mr. Chandramohan said. And, the results of the samples are eagerly awaited.

In Kozhikode, six samples from popular international brand outlets and four local brands were lifted and sent for analysis, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety P.K. Aleyamma said.

The association is apprehensive that the CSE study will hit the bread and bakery sector hard.

“We have 178 small, medium and large bread-making units as members across the State, with 100 of these in Malabar region. Together, these roll out 2.5 lakh loaves of bread every day.

“Only half the number of these is sold now, after the study report was made public,” he said.

Denying any unfair practice to improve taste or prolong shelf life, Mr. Chandramohan said. “In fact, we held a meeting with millers in 2011 to ask them not to add any chemical that will cause health problems.

Have done away with potassium bromate, claim bread makers

Ludhiana, June 3

City-based bread makers claimed to have finally done away with potassium bromate, the use of which had created stir following a controversial report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that stated that the commonly available bread in the market contained carcinogenic chemicals.

However, the controversial 924 (a), which stand for potassium bromate, still has a mention on wrappers of some of the bread-making firms.

On the other hand, all major bread manufacturers are currently carrying out a hectic advertising to re-establish their image, which had taken a hit following the controversy.

Ramesh Mago, MD, Kitty Industries Private Limited, who is also the president of the All-India Bread Manufacturers’ Association, said they had stopped the use of potassium bromate.

“We have crores of wrappers in stock with the mention of the chemical. We cannot dump these. We blacken the letter 924 (a), which stand for potassium bromate, with a black marker,” said Ramesh Mago.

When he was told that the packed bread in the market still had a mention of 924 (a), he said some of the bread wrappers might not have been marked. “Please ignore it as potassium bromate is not being used,” said Ramesh.

A study by the CSE’s pollution monitoring laboratory (PML) had revealed that 84 per cent of the bread samples collected from Delhi contained residues of potassium bromate and potassium iodate in the range of 1.15-22.54 parts per million (ppm). Potassium bromate and potassium iodate are used to treat flour meant for baking. The report states that consuming bread could lead to a deadly disease.

The CSE report caused widespread panic and led to nearly 40 per cent dip in the sale of bread. Avoiding entering into any tug-of– way with the CSE over the report, the bread makers immediately stopped the use of the chemical. The bread manufacturers claimed that they were adhering to the food safety norms laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Consumers worried as FDA silent on potassium bromate in bread

PANAJI

With Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) not coming out with the four bread samples that tested positive for cancer-causing potassium bromate, consumers in Goa are a worried lot as they are in dark on the bread that is safe for consumption.

Four breads (three sliced and one pizza bread) out of 29 samples had tested positive for potassium bromate in the state. With the FDA refusing to divulge the names of the brands or take them off from the shelves, consumers are scared that they may choose the harmful bread. The Navhind Times office is receiving several calls from consumers asking the identity of the bread that contain cancer-causing potassium bromate.

FDA director Salim Veljee said that once the notification banning potassium bromate by the health ministry comes in, “we will go all out to reveal names and stop the sale of such bread in shops.” Complete survey of all bread manufacturers will be undertaken to identify which are using the harmful chemical after the notification, he added. There are over 1,000 bread manufacturers in the state and the 29 samples are only a representative number, said Veljee.

The FSSAI, in Delhi, has decided to ban the use of potassium bromate in bread and recommended its removal from the list of permissible additives to the Union health ministry. The official notification of the ban is in pipeline and likely to be announced next week. Several consumers said that they are confused about the safety of slice bread in the market. There are about 10-12 popular brands in the stores, pastry shops, cafes, etc, and consumers said that the wait on the harmful bread is upsetting.

The permissible limit for potassium bromate is 50 parts per million as stipulated under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules / Regulation. According to the FDA, Goa bread with potassium bromate contained 25 parts per million and therefore it is within the limit. Further manufacturers have indicated in the list of ingredients on the label that potassium bromate was added.

Potassium bromated — a powerful oxidizing agent — is used for flour treatment in bread and other bakery products to give a blooming (fresh) look to the product. International agencies have classified it as possible carcinogenic to humans. Other than potassium bromate the FSSAI is also collecting evidence of potassium iodate which is also a harmful chemical. Both the chemicals in bread were detected by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

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கார்பைட் கல் மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்படும் மாம்பழங்கள் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வலியுறுத்தல்

தர் ம புரி, ஜூன் 4:

தர் ம பு ரி யில் கார் பைட் கல் மூலம் பழுக்க வைத்த மாம் ப ழம் விற் பனை செய் வதை தடுக்க அதி கா ரி கள் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க ேவண் டு மென கோரிக்கை எழுந் துள் ளது.

தமி ழ கத் தில் மா உற் பத் தி யில் தர் ம புரி மாவட் டம் முன் னிலை வகிக் கி றது. தர் ம புரி, காரி மங் க லம், மொரப் பூர், பாலக் கோடு, அரூர் உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி க ளில் 15 ஆயி ரம் ஏக் க ருக்கு மேல் மா சாகு படி செய் யப் பட் டுள் ளது. தற் போது மாம் ப ழம் சீசன் களை கட்ட துவங் கி யுள் ளது. செந் தூரா, மல் கோவா, பீத் தர் உள் ளிட்ட ரக மாம் ப ழங் க ளின் விற் பனை அதி க ரித் துள் ளது. மாவட் டத் தில் இந்த ஆண்டு சீரான மழை இல் லா த தால், மா விளைச் சல் கடு மை யாக பாதிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது.

சில வியா பா ரி கள் சீராக வளர்ச் சி ய டை யாத மாங் காய் களை பறித்து, விற் ப னைக்கு எடுத்து வரு கின் ற னர். அதை பழுக்க வைக்க கார் பைட் என்ற ரசா யன கற் கள் அல் லது பவு டர் மூலம் மாம் ப ழங் களை பழுக்க வைத்து விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். ரசா யன கல் கொண்டு பழுக்க வைக் கப் ப டும் பழங் களை, பொது மக் கள் சாப் பி டும் போது வயிற் று வலி, வயிற் று போக்கு உள் ளிட்ட உடல் உபா தைக்கு ஆளா கின் ற னர்.

இது கு றித்து பொது மக் கள் கூறு கை யில், ‘தர் ம பு ரி யில் சில கடை க ளில் ராச யன கற் க ளில் பழுக்க வைத்த மாம் ப ழங் களை விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். இது அதி கா ரி க ளுக்கு தெரிந் தா லும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுப் ப தில்லை. எனவே, உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை மற் றும் சுகா தா ரத் துறை மூலம் கண் கா ணித்து, கலெக் டர் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் க வேண் டும்’ என் ற னர்.