There is a famous saying that "Law is an Ass" and the on-going exercise by the GOI Health Ministry to formulate a law to regulate use of caffeine in beverages has to be seen from this perspective. As if there are no problems confronting the hapless consumer or the food industry in the country, great focus is being bestowed on a trivial matter like restriction of caffeine in some food products which any how 99% f the population do not consume. Look at the efforts put in by the GOI in clamping a restriction on Caffeine with the Health Minister saying in the parliament that no evidence of any risk was found by its scientists while another panel of the food "Authority" wants Caffeine limit not to exceed a certain limit. Why any one is so bothered about a particular brand of products mostly imported and consumed by well to do consumers, that contain relatively high levels of Caffeine, is beyond comprehension. Here is a take on this silly issue.
"The government is contemplating restricting use of caffeine in energy drinks and non-carbonated beverages made or sold in the country. An expert group of scientists from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has in a report suggested fixing of caffeine levels in energy drinks. As of now there are no prescribed limits of caffeine for energy drinks. However, under the FSSAI guidelines use of caffeine cannot exceed 145 mg/litre in carbonated water such as soft drinks. The group submitted a detailed report after examining scientific literature and global position on use of caffeine and non-carbonated beverages and their labelling. Its recommendations also suggested suitable safety measures and products standards of energy drinks. However, during a discussion in parliament on the safety of energy drinks and caffeine levels, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said another panel has said there was no evidence of health implication on consumption of the drinks. Therefore, they did not recommend a ban on energy drinks".
It is very true that reasonable safety restrictions must be in place to prevent run away practices by the food business that can jeopardize the health of the main stream population and by no stretch of imagination one can say that the so called Energy Drinks are items of popular consumption. Generally speaking no one can justify the use of Caffeine in any foods as it is neither a nutrient nor a health promoter and if its presence in beverages like coffee, tea and cocoa makes it a natural substance, it does not mean new products developed need to have caffeine! in fact caffeine is more a pharmaceutical ingredient endowed with some physiological activity helpful in combating medical conditions rather than a desirable food ingredient. If the food industry wants to use Caffeine as an ingredient full technical justification must be forthcoming based on science and it should not be allowed as a standard additive in foods.
No comments:
Post a Comment