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!

Why Awareness Against Food Adulteration The Need Of The Hour In India?

Today not even a single food product is spared from adulterants. Right from urea in milk, lead chromate in fruits and vegetables, pesticides in cold drinks, artificial colors in sweets, juices, jams, ketchup, and confectioneries, animal fat in vegetarian food to wax in cheese, substandard flour, papaya seeds in pepper, the list of adulterants just goes on. These adulterants hazardously affect our health causing various diseases. The common people at large are still not aware about the Menace of Adulteration.

In spite of amendments to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, food adulteration in India has only increased to an alarming level. Low penalty of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 for food fraud and erring manufacturers and traders being hardly put behind bars have only aided to the booming industry of food adulteration. If the menace is not controlled now, it would give birth to an unhealthier tomorrow with diseases ruling the roost! Lack of consumer awareness and their ignorance about PFA standards have only made things worse. Awareness about Food Adulteration is thus the need of the hour in India.

Common Adulterants in Beverages!

A few sips of tea or coffee in the morning do make your day, energizing you for the chores ahead! Today beverages are included sensibly as part of the everyday food as balanced diet that is calorically appropriate and nutritionally adequate.

Though beverages may not add the required nutrients, they contain water, which indirectly helps prevent dehydration, thus maintaining body balance. Yes, fruit juices, of course, provide few of the required minerals and vitamins we need. But are you sure that the beverages you drink are pure and unadulterated? Definitely not! Almost all beverages available in the market are adulterated.

Common adulterants in beverages and diseases caused
•    Tea may contain fluoride; it causes mottling of teeth, skeletal and neurological disorders
•    Tea also contains exhausted tea leaves, foreign leaves, saw dust artificial colors, which cause cancer and liver disorder
•    Chicory and tamarind seed powder are used as adulterants for coffee; they cause diarrhea
•    Fruit juices and soft drinks generally contain cadmium; this adulterant causes liver and kidney damage, increased salivation, prostrate cancer, and acute gastritis
•    Water and liquors may contain cobalt, which causes mycocardial failure and cardiac insufficiency
•    Cold drinks contain brominated vegetable oils, which cause enlargement of heart and anemia
•    Alcoholic liquors contain methanol, which causes blurred vision, blindness, and even death
•    Carbonator water beverages contain aluminium leaves; this adulterant causes stomach disorders.

While adulteration may happen during the processing and packaging stage, food frauds purposely incorporate adulterants for financial gain. These adulterants cause adverse effects on our health. It is time we are aware of the menace and buy only pure beverages free from adulteration! See More details at www.saharaqshop.com

Menace of Adulteration

Are you confident about the purity of the food that you consume? Ironically, we are conscious victims of food adulteration. The increasing incidence of diseases today, is, to some extent, related to adulteration.

Adulteration is a lucrative business today, profit being the key objective. The most basic foods we consume today are adulterated. Think of any food item – the milk you drink, the pulses and cereals you consume, the spices you add to food for a delicious flavor, the beverages you drink – there is almost no product that is not adulterated. Even baby food products not to mention vegetables and canned fruits, are adulterated.

For some time news hit the headlines about the supply of chemical milk in the market. Come a big festive celebration like Diwali and news about adulterated sweets hit as breaking news. But, consciously or unconsciously we hardly pay heed to the same and continue consuming adulterated food. Indeed it does negatively impact upon our health!

Here are few adulterants and diseases caused by the same:

·         Urea used in milk damage the heart and kidneys in the long run
·         Argenome seeds and oil used in mustard seeds, edible oils and fats cause cardiac arrest, glaucoma, and epidemic dropsy
·         Saw dust and exhausted tea leaves mixed in tea causes cancer and other health problems
·         Rancid oil used in oils destroys Vitamin A and E
·         TCP used in oils cause paralysis
·         Filth, marble chips, stones, sand used in food grains and pulses damage the digestive tract
·         Artificial colors used in various food items including turmeric, chilly powder, etc. cause cancer
·         Mineral oil used in edible oils and fats cause cancer
·         Methanol used in alcoholic liquors cause blindness, blurred vision, and even death
·         Lead chromate used in turmeric and spices causes brain damage, abortion in pregnant women, anemia, and paralysis
·         Arsenic sprayed in fruits to retain freshness causes dizziness, cramps, paralysis, chills, and even death
·         Cobalt mixed in water and liquors causes cardiac problems.

And the list of adulterants and diseases goes on. There are adulterants used in basic food items we consume everyday that affect the central nervous system, cause hepatitis, skin diseases, and more. Children are the most vulnerable to diseases caused by adulterated food.  Anemia, mental retardation, brain and liver damage are common diseases affecting children.

Adulterated products also affect mortality rates. According to a survey, the adulteration-quality ratio is approximately 30:70. If the menace is not curbed, the ratio would only turn to 70:30.This would only worsen quality of lives and affect the health of people at large. Stringent laws and the need to consider food adulteration as a serious crime is something under consideration however as citizens it’s We the People who need to raise our Awareness and be vigilant enough to not become consumers of adulterated products.

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