We are what we eat!

“We are what We EAT” - a saying that is true to its words. The truth behind the words holds quite true to our health. Eating fresh fruits reflects fresh look on our face. Eating fresh vegetables reflects in our immune system. Eating pure food reflects in our overall health. Or shall we say eating “unadulterated” food reflects in our overall health and downsizes the existence of falling prey to critical diseases which occur due to the prolonged intake of adulterants in food.

Adulteration has become a part and parcel of the food products that we eat. 90% of society buys food items without questioning the source of these food items; the physical, chemical or biological vulnerability in the processing units, the hygiene and safety measures in the warehouses where these are packed and stored... all these factors in the value chain make a lot of difference to the quality of food.

At Sahara Q Shop, Quality holds the prime value in all the processes of the entire value chain. The elimination of Food adulteration is vital to the growth of our next generation. We as the society have to take vigil action against adulteration by saying no to Adulterated Food. It’s time we declare Fight Against Adulteration!

Time To Say No To Food Adulteration!

Yes, we do deserve the best quality of living! But are we victimizing ourselves consciously by compromising on health? Indeed yes! Irrespective of where we live in any corner of India, we are knowingly consuming adulterated food, depriving ourselves of a quality life. It is we who can stop food adulteration. The more aware we are about the consequences of adulteration and stop buying and consuming adulterated food, lesser will be the prospects of food frauds in cheating people and healthier will be the society. Let us not plague the prospects of a healthy society that we can give shape to.

Someone has rightly said, ‘together we can, together we will’. Consumer awareness on a large scale can only help control adulteration. Many a consumer blindly buys food products without checking the ingredients, quality parameters, expiry date and other crucial information. Consumer awareness is the need of the hour. No wonder we are victims of many lifestyle diseases including chronic that affect us both in the short and long run – cancer, liver disorder, kidney problems, stomach disorders, digestive problems, glaucoma, skin diseases, and the list goes on. Unless consumers are aware of the menace of adulteration and become health conscious the situation cannot be brought under control.

It has been since 1899 that the laws regulating the quality of food have been in effect with several states formulating respective food laws until 1954. And then the Prevention of Food adulteration Act (PFA), a central legislation was enacted in 1954 by the government of India. The legislation came into force from 15 June, 1955. This was followed by coming into effect of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) in 2006. Irrespective of the Acts enacted, are government authorities able to curb the menace? It is a big No! It is only when consumers are aware and fight united that food adulteration can be contained. Say no to food adulteration by fighting against the menace.

For more information and to be a part of Fight Against Adulteration visit visit the site http://www.saharaqshop.com/fights-adulteration

Common Adulterants in Processed Food

Who can resist the temptation to eating potato chips, nuggets, French fries, sugary cereals, hot dogs, and other processed foods! Yes, the popularity of processed food is only ascending. Why not opt for healthy alternatives? Most processed foods contain sugar, salt, preservatives, fat, sodium and other harmful adulterants. Having unadulterated food is the secret behind staying healthy.

Adulterants in processed food and after-effects

• Defectively canned low or medium-acid foods, fermented food, etc. contain clostridium botulinus toxins A,B,E or F, which causes double vision, muscular paralysis, and death due to respiratory failure
• Canned meats and improperly processed milk contain the bacteria clostridium.perfringens (Welchii) type A, which causes nausea, abdominal pains, diarrhoea, and gas formation

• Cold drinks contain brominated vegetable oils, which cause anemia and enlargement of the heart
• In a variety of processed food, sulphur dioxide and sulphite are used beyond safe limit as preservatives; they cause acute irritation of the gastro-intestinal tracts
• Processed foods containing anti-caking agents, etc. are mixed with asbestos; it may cause cancer
• Processed protein products often contain urea, melamine and other non-protein nitrogen sources that add value to protein content
• Chemical additives used to add color, flavor, and enhance shelf life of processed food cause serious health hazards
• Jams and jellies may be actually a mixture of glucose, coal-tar dye, apple scraps, timothy seed, etc.
• Table sugar, shigella sonnei, urea, starch, acids, formalin, soap, detergents, melamine, etc. are often mixed with milk to maintain thickness and increase shelf life; these adulterants affect the liver, kidneys, digestive system, and cause other health problems
• Nuggets, French fries, etc. are high in preservatives, salt, and fat content, and the list goes on

Consuming processed foods continuously negatively impacts upon our health. Given the affordability, convenience, and long shelf life, processed foods have no wonder become a part and parcel of urban life however we should not give in into this convenience and be very aware while purchasing unadulterated processed foods to eat safe, and stay healthy. Let's spread the word, make the people aware and fight adulteration together!