FRUIT JUICE WITH PROBIOTICS-HOW ABOUT THE COMPATIBILITY?

One of the fundamental principles of food technology is that at low pH most bacteria cannot survive. Salt, sugar and acids are three of nature's own preservatives that can protect foods from microbial spoilage. Against this background claim by a Swedish food company to have developed a juice product containing probiotic strains of bacteria is a break through worth watching. It is remarkable that the juice products containing the active cells are able to stand the thermal processing schedule under acidic conditions, assuming this is the method used, without affecting the viability of the culture.

"Swedish dairy pioneer, Skånemejerier, has extended its Scandinavian-leading juice range, Bravo, to incorporate probiotic strains, believed to be the first in the world to do so in a fresh 100 per cent juice product with a cold-fighting claim.The new products, called Bravo Friscus, come in the form of one-litre 100 per cent apple and orange juices cartons and incorporate two probiotic strains that have been clinically proven to resist colds and flus". 

The strains of cultures used L.plantarum and L.paracasei are specially developed for their ability to withstand the acidic environment of the juice and the recipe is designed such a way that the cells are kept alive during storage and distribution. The product is supposed to contain about one billion 'colony forming units' (cfu) per 250 ml serving. However the claim that the product can protect one from cold and flu may be a bit far fetched and probably designed to exploit the current near panic situation vis-à-vis swine flu all over the world..

 

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

"DOMESTICATED" FISH-AT WHAT PRICE?

Dramatic transformation of food production methods from one that was based on open farming or open rearing of animals a few decades ago to the present input intensive operations for increasing the productivity and profitability has also brought along with it many problems of undesirable nature. These include increased green house emissions, higher inputs of energy, fertilizers, water and pesticides and to top it, the nutritional and health quality and safety of foods so produced have been under a cloud. A typical example is Salmon farming which has practically made the wild varieties extinct with more than 90% of this variety of fish contributed by the former.

"While salmon "farming" conjures an agrarian image, the industry is more akin to CAFOs -- the concentrated animal feeding operations -- used by the industrial meat industry that is responsible for most of the chicken, burgers and pork that Americans consume. They're also responsible for a lot of waste and pollution that comes with raising a whole bunch of creatures in a confined space".

As the captive aquaculture farms that raise Salmon use feed concentrates and antibiotics, some of them not permitted, at concentrations much higher than that tolerated by humans, the output from these farms cannot be said to be absolutely safe for regular consumption. Besides the high levels of poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) present in the farm grown Salmons can also pose greater health risk. In their eagerness to get Omega-3 fatty acids present in Salmon, consumers may not be aware of other dangers posed by the domesticated versions, flooding the market.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

QUALITY OF PERISHABLES-A NEW ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

Buying fresh produce from the retailing stores can be a hazardous job and high wastage is routinely experienced between bringing them home and consumption. Many housewives routinely check the quality by smell or touch, though she can go wrong many times. With produce prices touching three figures in the case of many fruits, Indian consumer can hardly afford any post-purchase waste. Big global players like Dole or Chiquita have the necessary wherewithal to maintain prime quality of their products with well streamlined technologies, experienced personnel and high quality infrastructure. But there are many middle level retailers with hardly any choice but to absorb the wastage and consequently the economic losses due to their inadequately equipped quality assessment system. Development of a sensitive sensor to evaluate the eatability or otherwise of fresh produce, probably will help these retailers to manage their back shop operations more reliably.

"Researchers in Germany have come up with a new system based on metal-oxide sensor technology, that could check food quality and safety in a cost-effective way. The researchers from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME) and for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM), claim that their system can check the emission of gases from food on the spot, without waiting for lab results. It can also quantify the time for the ripening of fruits and vegetables to their readiness for consumption at homes".

Most attractive feature of the device is its ability to quantify the time required for the produce to attain optimum eating quality and consequently plan better to put the right produce at the right time on the shop shelves for sale. Though the device could be expensive, being a one time investment, it may be worth the money spent for procuring it in terms of reduced wastage on the market shelves. This in turn will boost the confidence of the consumer on the retailer to sell safe and good quality foods.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

PROVE YOUR CLAIM, ELSE FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!

Nutritional labeling and health claims printed or promoted through the media help the food industry to reap rich benefits and many such claims are based on general publications taken in isolation or limited animal and clinical studies. In India one can see every day products being promoted to make children tall, smart and sharp. Or the double protein hoax played on the consumer just because the product contains marginally higher proteins of unknown quality. One manufacturer uses the unheard of terminology 'nutriabsorption science', whatever that means, to impress on the consumer about better availability of nutrient through more efficient absorption, if their product is consumed. All these claims apparently have no shred of scientific evidence to support.

Look at Europe where concerned authorities are making it difficult to make such claims by insisting on data generation to support. " Breakfast cereal manufacturers will be forced to abandon many health claims used to promote their products unless they can be scientifically proven, under a European Union clampdown. The move will hit some of the UK's most popular cereal brands and other foods, many of which claim to improve health because they have been enhanced with ingredients such as vitamins and oat bran, but which also contain high levels of sugar, fat or salt. Kellogg's, which makes Special K, Frosties and Optivita, and Nestlé, which produces Shreddies and Cheerios, could be among the biggest firms affected".

Obviously there is some one in Europe who cares for the interests of the consumers unlike in India where many manufacturers are indulging in such wild claims day and night with total impunity. Neither the Health Ministry nor the MFPI seems to be bothered about such a state of affairs, leaving consumers to decide themselves about the veracity of such claims!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

GM FOODS ALERT-THE OTHER SIDE

GM foods have been commercialized in the US to such an extent it is difficult to find a processed food product there which does not contain one or more of GM food constituents. On the other hand Europeans are more cautious in embracing GM foods. Countries like China, India and Brazil are increasingly adopting GM crop technology, probably because of the imperatives of increasing the production to meet the needs of their growing population. Though this is an intensely controversial subject on which scientific community is divided, lack of transparency by the seed technology giants who had invested heavily in GM technology compounds the problem further.

In the US itself there are fierce opponents to GM technology, their simple argument being that the technology has not been adequately tested for its safety to humans in the long run."In March 2001, the Center for Disease Control reported that food is responsible for twice the number of illnesses in the U.S. compared to estimates just seven years earlier. This increase roughly corresponds to the period when Americans have been eating GM food".

The critical observation above is fraught with grave implications for future generations and there must be global cooperation amongst governments to clear the safety aspects as early as possible without further delay. World cannot be divided based on GM crop eating countries and natural food consuming nations!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

GOVERNING WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY-POLICY FAILURES

It is shocking that a slow realization is dawning upon a significant section of India's population that the food situation in the country is worse than that prevailing in many sub-Saharan African countries. Who is responsible for this sorry situation in which the country finds itself, though 'authorities' in Delhi continue to declare from their plush offices that the present situation does not call for pressing the panic button? Blaming monsoon is a favorite pastime which is the only excuse to hide behind. Of course due to poor irrigation infrastructure development, water availability is continuously dwindling and reduced crop yield is inevitable as the green revolution success is critically dependent on adequate water supply.

Here is what a commentator has to say about the situation in the country."Therefore, the government, if it really means business on the price front and acts to urgently secure access to food and nutritional requirements of the 'aam aadmi', will have to decisively reverse the current trend of dismantling the PDS and exclude vast numbers. The answer to the current crisis lies in creating a truly universal PDS and do away with misplaced computation of the poverty line which has no consonance with the ground reality. This will have a double benefit: Ensuring food security for the vulnerable and bringing down the price line in the open market. There is enough empirical evidence to suggest that such government intervention, insulating large numbers from the whims of the market, will have a sobering effect on the price line".

With annual food grain production swinging between 180 million tons and 210 million tons, the future production increases are uncertain and more than 6 million hectares are not being cultivated this year for want of sufficient soil moisture. The PDS is already in shambles and the vulnerability of those not having access to a universal PDS continue to rise. The encouraging weekly figures of inflation and WPI do not bring solace to the population which face a totally different ground reality with prices of every staple food sky rocketing with GOI as a mute spectator!. When the farmers look up the sky, he is not only praying for rains but also to God pleading for salvation from this desperate situation!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FRESH FRUIT TRANSPORTATION-OZONE TECHNOLOGY

It is believed that about 25-50% of the fruits and vegetables produced are spoiled between harvest and the consumer's table due to many reasons. Low temperature transportation in refrigerated trucks on the roads and reefer containers in overseas freight carrying vessels give protection to some commodities though optimum storage conditions for many others are still to be worked out. Though Modified Atmosphere Storage(MAS), which is becoming the industry standard for global trade in perishables, it has not yet become universal due to inadequate availability of such specialized carriers for meeting the demand. While use of a mixture of air and CO2 in varying proportions can regulate respiration and transpiration in live commodities, microbiological damage due to many spoilage organisms is also controlled to varying extent depending on the commodity. Purfresh, one of the industry leaders in fresh food transport business has come up with a new technology where ozone is used to retard microbial spoilage.

"Purfresh Transport, the industry`s only ozone-based, active 
atmosphere management solution, constantly  monitors
and dynamically manages the environment inside
the refrigerated container throughout the voyage-providing
the ability to ship even highly sensitive fruits and vegetables
long distances. Using powerful ozone molecules
to kill molds, yeasts, and bacteria in the air and on surfaces,
Purfresh Transport provides superior decay control without
impacting the product`s natural characteristics". 

How far this technology will be effective on different varieties of fruits is not  known though claims are being
made that it works for Mangoes, Cherries, Ginger and Papaya. Though technology trials were carried out using
Mexican mangoes and even after 22 days the fruit remained firm, how some of the premium Indian
mango varieties like Alphonso will behave in presence of ozone is not known. It is worthwhile to explore
the relevance of this technology for some of the tropical fruits produced in abundance in many developing
countries like India, for which there is good demand in the international market is worth exploring.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com