After carbide, fruit traders turn to 'China powder'

State still languishing without enough food inspectors to check adulteration

HYDERABAD: Despite the Hyderabad high court's intervention in the matter, fresh, unadulterated fruits and vegetables are still out of reach for the common people in the city. Be it due to the lack of food safety inspectors or the novel ways introduced by traders to ripen fruits, what's flooding the market still is harmful chemical-laced food.

In fact, the high court came down heavily on the nonchalant way in which the staff of the two states are responding to the challenge posed by unscrupulous traders. This prompted the Telangana government's special counsel, A Sanjeev Kumar, to reveal that traders have begun using a new chemical called China powder to ripen fruits.

Following this claim made in the court, food safety experts are now questioning the source of the powder and its chemical composition. "We have heard of such chemicals, but they were not prominently used earlier as they were costlier than calcium carbide. While calcium carbide is known to be toxic, there is no substantial proof to suggest that this powder is safe," said a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on the condition of anonymity.

Experts from the city too said there must be a thorough investigation to find what goes into China powder. "China powder comes with labelling that specifies that it could contain ethylene. While its use is permitted by the Supreme Court, there is no proper mention about the concentration of ethylene in these packets," said V Sudershan Rao, a food safety expert at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

Even as the flow of adulterated food on to our table continues, the state still lacks proper mechanism to curb the menace in the city. According to the M Prasada Rao committee recommendations on rationalisation of staffing patterns in the GHMC, a city as expansive as Hyderabad requires as many as 25 food inspectors and more people to lift samples at the circle level.

"As a first step to curb adulteration, we must have more food inspectors to lift samples. While the requirement is of 25 inspectors, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has no more than four," said a senior official from the Nutrition Society of India.

DINAMANI & DAILYTHANTHI NEWS

For an adulteration-free lifestyle

Organic products

One out of every 5 samples of food items tested by public food safety labs in the country has been found “adulterated and misbranded”, according to the testing report of public laboratories released by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). And thanks to social media platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp, we get to see videos showing how synthetic cabbage is made, how food colouring is done to make tomatoes look more red and ripe and much more. Considering the increasing need to find safe and nutritious food, Aditi Ghokle and Aman Singal started an online platform, All Things Organic, which focuses only on organic and natural products.

Launched in September 2015, the website allthingsorganic.com features organic fruits, vegetables, groceries, processed items made from organic ingredients, and also cosmetics and homecare necessities.

“We started with a very personal need of trying to find safe nutritious food for our families. We spoke to some friends and found out that we are not alone in this struggle. With the mission to provide chemical-free lifestyle to all, we started with this portal,” Singal tells Metrolife. 

According to a research conducted by Ghokle and Singal, 70 per cent of high quality organically grown food in India is exported due to lucrative pricing, because of which, only traders benefit, not the farmers. 

So in order to provide direct sourcing from farmers, they have introduced a ‘Farm Traceability Program’ for their certified fresh produce, under which fruits and vegetables under their label Organic Origins can be traced back to their respective farms using a Quick Response (QR) code.

“By scanning the code, the consumer gets access to complete details of the farm along with pictures. Through this, we try to ensure transparency by directly connecting consumers to farmers. This allows elimination of middlemen. This way, the organic produce becomes more affordable,” says Singal. 

Apart from providing homemade dishes like organic kaanji, aam panna and garlic pickle, the portal provides a range of organic beauty products like bath salts, body scrubs, hair oils, hair conditioners and more, which are not easily available in the market. 

“In India, the cosmetics market is dominated by bigger brands. So we got together many small ventures who were working in organic beauty products to provide them with a platform to sell their products,” adds Singal. 

However, while organic products are available only in supermarkets or shopping malls and not in the next grocery store in one’s locality, how do they manage their inventory? “We work with multiple suppliers for this. While we do maintain some inventory, we also work in a Just-in-Time (JIT) format to source the freshest available products for our customers. Also, through our subscription program, we are able to manage the supply challenges,” says Singal adding that they are now looking forward to launch a range of freshly processed organic products which are children’s favourites along with homemade recipes and healthy snacks.

HEALTH MINISTRY TO ‘RECONSIDER’ PRODUCTION OF KHESARI DAL

Even as the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended lifting of the ban on three varieties — Ratan, Prateek and Mahateara — of the controversial Khesari dal terming them safe, the Union Health Ministry seems to be treading cautiously in the matter.

In view of negative reports regarding the dal, which was banned in the country way back in 1961 after its consumption was linked to a neurological disorder called lathyrism (paralysis in the legs), the Ministry has set up a panel and is seeking views from various representatives particularly those opposing the lifting of ban in this regard.

“Yes, following clearance from a research panel headed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for consumption of the Khesari dal, the FSSAI has recommended removal of ban and sought our final decision.

“But we are not in haste. We are seeking views from the stakeholders who are against the ban lift. Our final decision will based on the assessment of all the views,” a senior official from the Ministry said.

Considered as the poor man’s dal due to its low cost, those opposing the lifting of ban claim that it will not be a healthy move as there are high chances of pulse producer indulging in adulteration.

The FSSAI has gone solely by the ICMR’s latest recommendation on lifting the ban on sale and storage of the three varieties of Khesari dal in view of its high protein content and water use efficiency.

A hardy pulse crop, Khesari (Lathyrus odoratus) can grow in both drought as well as waterlogged conditions. The grain is known to produce a toxin called BAPN or beta-amino-propio-nitrile, which, when ingested, causes limb paralysis and bone deformity — the result of a neurological disorder called lathyrism. There is a debate in the scientific community over the safety of khesari dal. As per a report in the Indian Journal of Medicine, published in July 2013, the dal is “harmless as a part of a normal diet” and could even become a “prized commodity” for cardiovascular care. However, the Indian Institute of Toxicological Research is reported to be of the opinion that khesari dal’s consumption is “not safe”.

PMO calls meeting on trade cargo scrutiny norms tomorrow

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has called a meeting of various ministries and regulators tomorrow to sort out issues concerning scrutiny of trade cargo with the overall objective of improving ease of doing business. 

The meeting has been called on the request of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) which wants the PMO to resolve the differences among various departments over the issue of 10 per cent risk assessment, an official said. 

With a view to promote ease of doing business, the CBEC has proposed a new system under which only 10 per cent of the cargo would be scrutinised. 

However, the proposal is not agreeable to certain departments. 

Representatives of ministries and departments, including Shipping, Health, Plant Quarantine, Animal Quarantine, Agriculture and Food Safety and Standards Authority ofIndia (FSSAI), would attend the meeting. 

According to an industry expert, countries world over follow the system of 1 per cent to 10 per cent risk assessment of containers. 

"This move would help importers and exporters cut transaction time and cost. Based on the risk assessment of importer or supplier, minimum number of containers should be scrutinised," Director General of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Ajay Sahai said.

Like junk food? Acid reflux cancer on rise

Chennai:

Deep fried samosas, oily bajjis and cheesy burgers washed down with sugar-loaded aerated drinks lead not just to a bulging waistline, but can increase risk of food pipe cancer.

Over the past 20 years, ma ny hospitals across India have recorded a two-fold increase in cancer of the lower part of the food pipe caused by prolonged acid reflux disease linked to junk food.

“This kind of cancer is common in the west. Now we are seeing it more often in India. There is a link between high-fat, low-fibre food and cancer. Many people diagnosed with this type of cancer have been suffering from reflux,“ said Dr R Swaminat han, professor and head, biostatistics and cancer registry , Cancer Institute.

In people with reflux, the acid which the stomach uses to digest food escapes into the lower part of the food pipe.This constant backwash of acid can irritate the lining of the food pipe causing inflam mation and scars leading to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The commonest symptom is heartburn or chest pain. In the last two decades, doctors say, reflux has reached epidemic proportions.

Over a period of time, reflux can cause a kind of can cer called adenocarcinoma that develops in the gland cells. The Cancer Institute, Chennai, which maintains the Madras Metropolitan Tumour registry , has now decided to do a pilot study and register types and sites of foodpipe cancer for the city registry and national registry .

“This type of cancer occurs only in the bottommost part of the food pipe,“ Dr Swaminathan said.

In the 90s, gastroenterologists saw a rise in squamous cell cancer, mostly in the top and middle parts of the foodpipe, which is mainly caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Now, nearly a quarter of foodpipe cancers are at the bottom of the food pipe. In some hospitals, the number is even higher. For instance in Coimbatore, gastroenterologists say at least 40% to 50% of food pipe cancers are caused by GERD. “In the mid-1990s, only 10% to 15% of cancers were adenocarcinoma. Last year we saw the trend nearly reverse,“ said the founder and chairman of Gem Hospitals, Dr C Palanivelu.

Senior gastroenterologists say dietary habits have played a huge role in pushing up cancer of the foodpipe.Two years ago, an ongoing study by Government General Hospital's department of surgical gastroenterology linked smoked meat -red meat or fish dipped in greasy oil, and covered with a mix of salt, chilli powder and spices before it is cooked directly over fire -to food pipe cancers. When meat or fish is cooked directly over fire, it gets covered with carcinogens, making it more dangerous than even smoking or consumption of alcohol, surgical gastroenterologist Dr S M Chandramohan who's studied more than 100 cancer patients.

The silver lining is that adenocarcinoma is relatively easier to treat than squamous cell carcinoma.“If reflux is detected in the early stages, it can be treated with medicines or endoscopic surgery ,“ said Dr V G Mohan Prasad. “We can treat reflux even when it goes into the next stage, which is called Barrett's disease. But, at present, smoking and chewing tobacco continue to be our biggest problem. Cancer caused by this reaches advanced stage three without symptoms and requires chemotherapy , radiation and surgery ,“ said Dr P Karthikeyan, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital.

கெமிக்கல் தெளித்த மாம்பழத்தால் வயிற்றுபோக்கு ஏற்படும் சுகாதாரத்துறை எச்சரிக்கை

சென்னை, ஜூன் 14:

சுவைக்கு பெயர் பெற்ற ஜவ் வாது மற் றும் பங் க ன பள்ளி வகை மாம் ப ழங் கள், மக் க ளின் வயிற் றுக்கு பிரச்னை ஏற் ப டுத் தும் வகை யில் பதப் ப டுத் தப் பட்டு வரு கின் றன. இத னால், வயிற் றுப் போக்கு ஏற் ப டும் என மக் க ளுக்கு, சுகா தார துறை எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத்து உள் ளது.

திரு வள் ளூர் மாவட் டத் தில், 3,000 ஏக் கர் பரப் பில் மாம் ப ழம் சாகு படி செய் யப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. ஏப் ரல் மாத துவக் கத் தில் செந் தூரா, மாத இறு தி யில் ஜவ் வாது, மே மாதத் தில் பங் க ன பள்ளி, ருமானி, நீலம், பெங் க ளூரா, ஜூன் மாதத் தில் நீலம் ஆகிய ஆறு வகை மாம் ப ழங் கள் கிடைக் கின் றன.

இவற் றில், புள் ளி கள் ஏது மின்றி பொலி வு டன் காணப் ப டும் ஜவ் வாது மற் றும் பங் க னப் பள்ளி மாம் ப ழங் களை ஏற் று ம தி யா ளர் கள் டன் னுக்கு, ரூ.45 ஆயி ரம் வரை கொடுத்து கொள் மு தல் செய்து வந் த னர்.

இந்த ஆண்டு பரு வ நிலை மாற் றங் க ளால் விளைச் சல் குறைந் த தோடு, ஏற் று மதி ரக மாம் ப ழங் க ளின் தரம் குறைந் து விட் டது. இது கு றித்து, மாம் பழ சாகு ப டி யா ளர் ஒரு வர் கூறு கை யில், இந்த ஆண்டு, குறிப் பிட்ட காலத் தில் மழை பெய் யா த தால், 90 சத வீத பழங் க ளில் புள் ளி கள் விழுந்து விட் டன. அதோடு அடிக் கடி சூறா வ ளிக் காற்று வீசி ய தால், மரத் தில் இருந்த மாங் காய் கள் கொட்டி விட் டன என் றார்.

இத னால், இந்த ஆண்டு விளைந்த பெரும் பா லான மாம் ப ழங் கள் உள் ளூர் சந் தைக்கே வந் துள் ளன. இவற்றை குறைந்த காலத் தில் விற்க வச தி யாக, ஆபத் தான முறையை வியா பா ரி கள் கையாண்டு வரு கின் ற னர்.

இதற்கு முன்பு செங் காய் கள் எனப் ப டும், முழு மை யாக பழுக் காத நிலை யில் உள்ள பழங் களை பறித்து, சந் தைக்கு அனுப் பிய பின் “கார் பை டு’ கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைத் த னர். இதற்கு கெடு பிடி அதி க ரித்து விட் ட தால், தற் போது, “எத் தி லீன் ’’ திர வத்தை மாம் ப ழங் க ளில் தெளித்து வரு கின் ற னர்.

இத் த கைய பழங் களை சாப் பி டு வ தால் வயிற் றுப் போக்கு ஏற் ப டும் என மருத் து வர் கள் எச் ச ரித்து உள் ள னர்.

இது கு றித்து மாவட்ட சுகா தார துறை இணை இயக் கு னர் பிர பா கர் கூறு கை யில், செங் காய் களை விரை வில் பழுக்க வைப் ப தற் காக, எத் தி லீன் திர வம் தெளிக் கப் பட்ட பழங் கள் விற் கப் ப டு வ தாக புகார் கள் வந் துள் ளன. இந்த வகை பழங் களை சாப் பிட் டால் செரி மா னம் ஏற் ப டாது. மேலும், வயிற் றுப் போக்கு ஏற் ப டும் வாய்ப்பு அதி கம் உள் ளது. இந்த பழங் களை தண் ணீ ரில் கழுவி சாப் பிட் டால், உட லுக்கு தீங்கு ஏற் ப டாது என மக் கள் நினைக் கின் ற னர். அது தவறு என் றார்.

மேலும், இவ் வாறு விற் கப் ப டும் மாம் ப ழங் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து அழிக்க, அரசு மருத் து வ ம னை க ளில் பணி பு ரி யும் சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் க ளுக்கு அறி வு றுத் தப் பட்டு உள் ளது. இது கு றித்து, சம் பந் தப் பட்ட அரசு மருத் து வ மனை சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் க ளி டம் மக் கள் புகார் அளித் தால் உட ன டி யாக நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என் றார்.

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