DINAKARAN NEWS

Food additive in crackers, frozen meat worsens flu

New York:

A common food additive found in many products, including frozen meat, crackers and fried foods, could weaken the human immune system against flu, which accounts for 290,000-650,000 deaths globally every year, say researchers. Besides increasing the severity of flu symptoms, the study found exposure to the compound — tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) — could reduce effectiveness of flu vaccine through its effects on T cells, a vital component of the immune system.

During the study, mice fed tBHQ-spiked diet were slower to activate both helper T cells and killer T cells, causing slower clearance of the virus.

“Our studies showed mice on a tBHQ diet had a weakened immune response to influenza (flu) infection,” said Robert Freeborn, postdoctoral candidate at the Michigan State University. “In our mouse model, tBHQ suppressed function of helper and killer T cells. It led to more severe symptoms during a subsequent influenza infection,” Freeborn said.

When the mice were re-infected with a different but related strain of influenza, those on the tBHQ diet had a longer illness and lost more weight. This suggests that tBHQ impaired the ‘memory response’ that typically primes the immune system to fight a second infection, Freeborn said. tBHQ is an additive used to prevent spoilage, with a maximum allowed concentration of 200 parts per million in food products. Since tBHQ is not always listed on ingredient labels, the best way to limit tBHQ exposure is to be conscious about food choices. A low-fat diet and less consumption of processed snacks will help reduce tBHQ consumption, he suggested. 

IGNOU plans new online courses on tourism and food safety

NEW DELHI: In its effort to make learning convenient and flexible for the students, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is planning to start new online courses such as MA in Hindi, certificate course in food safety and certificate course in tourism studies from July 2019. The open university has submitted a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is awaiting their confirmation.

“Under the umbrella of Online Courses or Programmes Regulations, 2018 by UGC, we have submitted the proposal for four online courses which includes a two-year masters in Hindi programme and two certificate courses that will be conducted for six months. We will soon disclose the name of the fourth course after getting approval from the UGC,” says Nageshwar Rao, vice chancellor, IGNOU.

“The course structure for all the online courses will be based on the curriculum of similar existing regular courses for which the online examinations will be conducted across 56 regional centres of IGNOU,” he adds.

In 2018, UGC released eligibility criteria of higher educational institutions in India that allowed open universities to conduct online programmes only in those disciplines which were already offering the similar courses in open and distance learning mode and at least one batch has been passed out from the same.

“In our center of online education, we have identified around 85 online courses that include 46 undergraduate and postgraduate certificate programmes, 22 diploma or post graduate diploma courses, two undergraduate, six postgraduate and four awareness/refresher/appreciation programmes,” says Rao while talking to Education Times on IGNOU’s 32nd convocation day.

“For the online courses, the university will adopt four quadrant learning approach that will include digital study material through e-gyankosh, e-learning videos, doubt session with teachers through IGNOU’s web-based TV channel- Gyandarshan and online evaluation,” he adds.

With an aim to establish IGNOU as an online platform of learning, the varsity is planning to conduct regular examinations in online mode. “We are in conversation with the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct our online entrance as well as the regular examinations. Although it is difficult to conduct long stretched regular examinations, initially they might just conduct IGNOU’s entrance examinations from next academic year,” says Rao.

PIL claims FSSAI and not MCDs should issue license to meat shops: HC seeks Delhi govt's reply

The Delhi High Court Monday sought a response of the AAP government on a plea alleging that the municipal bodies were still granting licenses for setting up slaughter houses in the city when the power to do so is vested in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Apart from the Delhi government, a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani also issued notice to the municipal bodies in the city and the FSSAI seeking their stand on the plea.

The petition by Gauri Maulekhi, an animal rights activist, has contended that after the FSSAI rules came into effect in August 2011, the food safety authority was the sole competent body to regulate and grant registration or license to slaughter houses and meat shops.

However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in September 2011 issued a revised meat shop policy under which it continued to grant registration and licenses to the meat shops and slaughter houses, senior advocate Raj Panjwani, appearing for Maulekhi, told the court.

In the petition, filed through advocate Priyanka Bangari, the animal rights activist has contended that the FSSAI Regulations "specifically regulates and lays down the specific hygienic and sanitary practices to be followed by the food business operators engaged in manufacture, processing, storing and selling of meat and meat products, to obtain the said license to operate".

"Therefore, slaughter houses, meat shops, processing units such as cold storage of meat, etc. are bound by law to obtain license under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 from the FSSAI," the petition has said.

It has also said despite the Director (Regulatory Compliance) FSSAI 

writing to the Delhi government in June last year to direct the municipal corporation to withdraw the September 2011 licensing policy, nothing has been done till date.

Erring traders charged Rs 83,000 fine at Ganderbal

Srinagar

The court of Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum- Adjudicating Officer, Ganderbal Showkat Ahmad imposed a fine of Rs 83,000 on a number of traders for violating the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, Rules and Regulations -2011.

The Food Business Operators were directed to correct the deficiencies found during the course of adjudication in the food products which were processed/packed/manufactured and pumped into the market for consumption of general masses by them.