BRINJAL- "GOING BANANAS" IN INDIA!

While the global debate about the safety of genetically modified(GM) foods is getting more and more muddied, India is quietly trying to introduce Bt brinjal, a GM vegetable developed by the multinational seed giant Monsanto in proxy, through its subsidiary Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (MAHYCO) and a couple of willing Indian collaborators. Government regulatory authority has already cleared it for commercial cultivation based on controversial data generated by the developers. Even if GOI eventually gives its nod to launch this product, how far it is going to be a commercial success remains to be seen.

A report by Debi Barker, Executive Director of the International Forum on Globalization, says that genetically modified crops can spread in the environment and contaminate other crops and plants. Concerns over their effect on wildlife and human health have been expressed all over the globe. Food policy analyst Devinder Sharma raises a few important questions -"First of all, do we even need Bt brinjal? Why take a risk? Where is the crisis in brinjal production that necessitates it?"

The move is all the more risky since consumer will have no way to know whether brinjal in the market is natural or genetically modified, as most vegetables in the country are sold loose in the market with no label to depend on, for knowing the truth. The crucial question that will ultimately decide the viability of GM foods is whether consumer's right to know about what is being offered by the industry will be compromised through lax regulation by the governments concerned.

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

'PROBIOTIC' BACTERIA -AN INSIGHT INTO THEIR MODE OF ACTION

Probiotic foods happen to be the most widely marketed functional foods with many health promoting attributes assigned to them. They are supposed to boost immunity and improve digestion. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a common GI disorder found in western countries is also amenable to treatment with probiotic foods. In children it is even claimed to reduce incidence of respiratory infections. Though exact mechanism regarding the role played by the Lactobacillus bacteria was not known, current efforts in mapping the genome sequences of Lactobacillus rhamnose GG (LGG)have thrown new light on this subject.

"In its recent publication, the research team showed that the protein component found by the team has a fundamental role in LGG binding with the human intestinal mucus. The team found out that the surface structures of LGG has a specific adhesion component. Remarkably, the binding feature has been assumed to be one of the most important characteristics of bacteria with health-benefiting effects. Moreover, the researchers assume that the protein structure in question enables the health-promoting effects of LGG and other probiotic bacteria, and the positive immune modulation produced by them".

While the above efforts are indeed laudable, it is not known whether all species coming under the probiotic group will also have same mechanism in their mode of action. Probably the lead provided should help other workers to pursue this line of investigation to confirm the above findings.

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

SELLING RAW MILK- RETURNING TO OLD WORLD PRACTICES!

Selling raw milk is a common phenomenon in India as the reach of organized dairies is limited to urban areas. Even in cities like Mumbai fresh milk is delivered to hundreds of households in the morning by the owners of small dairy farms located in the outskirts and there does not seem to be any problem regarding the safety of milk supplied fresh. Probably the prevailing practice of "cooking" the milk achieves sterilization and as long as the acidity is within limits, milk is unlikely to be spoiled at the consumer end. But in many developed countries practically 100% of milk consumed is supplied after pasteurization by the organized dairies and consumers have developed taste and convenience in using such milk directly without additional heating at home before consumption.

Ban on selling fresh milk, in place in some of the countries, is based on the experience that such products tend to carry pathogenic infections having serious health consequences but economic compulsions seem to be forcing a return to the old practice of selling fresh milk, discouraged till recently."With dairy farmers struggling to make ends meet worldwide, many are turning to selling raw milk – straight from the cow and unpasteurized. In Pennsylvania, the nation's largest raw-milk permitting state, 122 farms have permits. Another 35 are in the permitting process right now. Some farmers are selling 1,000 gallons a week at $3 a gallon. That's powerful incentive".

Excess milk production combined with progressively reducing procurement price offered by milk processors is forcing some of the milk producers to sell directly, though their outreach is some what limited compared to the large retailing net work that distributes packed milk in pasteurized form through the super markets. In a country like USA where "local produce movement" is getting stronger day by day, selling fresh milk locally may sound logical as such products carry lower "carbon loads". Whether Americans will emulate Indians in using the ubiquitous milk "cooker" or domestic pasteurizers of smaller capacity is going to be a part of the kitchen appliances in that country, to make the milk safer, remains to be seen.

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

SALADS-THE LOOMING THREAT OF CONTAMINATION

Classical food technologists would have laughed if they were told that fresh produce like lettuce, spinach etc could be carriers of pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella, as meat and poultry have been the popular candidates for such contamination. But during the last few years, with the salad eating habits gaining ground, fresh produce, both cut as well as whole have been causing innumerable incidences of food poisoning in some of the developed countries. What is alarming is that even chlorine washing during processing and packing, some times, fails to decontaminate the products. Consumers are highly vulnerable because they assume that the packed produce on the shelves of the super markets have been safety checked by the processors.

How can these produce grown under protected environment can get contaminated with pathogenic bacteria? "Greens are especially vulnerable for several reasons, including that they are grown so close to the ground -- unlike, say, fruit from trees -- and can be tainted by water runoff, a persistent source of contamination when it carries animal waste. What makes fresh-cut greens more susceptible is also what makes them convenient: the cutting and bagging that eliminate much of the work of salad preparation. That processing allows pathogens to get into the leaves, where they can flourish. The machinery used and the mixing of greens from various farms contribute to those dangers, not unlike the risks associated with processing ground beef".

In India the salad eating habit has not yet been popular and no imminent threat can be anticipated on this count. Traditionally Indian consumers do eat freshly washed and cut vegetables like cucumber, onion and tomato. Both onion and cucumber are peeled reducing the danger while tomato can still pose some risk. Probably it may take years for such a threat perception becoming a reality though this area needs careful watching, especially in urban areas where fresh produce are brought from sub-urban farms, growing vegetables using sullage water. Practice of washing is never followed especially by the farmers and the produce arrive straight at the market, leaving the onus on the consumer to make them safe at home. Advent of organized retailing probably may change the scenario as they have a reputation to protect and therefore may follow scientific practices to make fresh produce safer.

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

URBAN LANDSCAPING-UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

Pollen induced allergy and asthma are taking increasing toll on human life and unknowingly this problem is getting accentuated due to the desire for neat looking landscapes in modern dwelling places. It is now accepted that pollen can be an environmental hazard and their count is a part of determining the quality of air in cities and towns which face many odds because of many pollutants arising out of modern living styles. The dioecious trees like poplar, willow, cedar etc have male and female flowers on separate plants and for effective pollination their number in an area has to balanced. Modern landscapers prefer male versions since they do not liter the place giving a picture perfect appearance to the area but they produce high concentration of pollen which cause allergy.

In an informative report which came out some time back, the allergen problem and its root cause were clearly brought out, resulting in a better insight into this subject. "This situation is no coincidence, according to landscape gardener, teacher and writer Thomas Ogren. He believes the steady increase in the number of seasonal allergy sufferers has its roots in a trend toward using male trees and shrubs in urban landscaping. Among the trees believed to be problematic for allergy sufferers are such popular varieties as cottonwood, willow, elm, aspen, maple and poplar"

It is remarkable that some one has been able to bring out the underlying malady that has manifested in exposing millions of children in modern well landscaped schools in North America where the pollen levels were as high as 60000 per square yard air. unknowingly these schools seem to be pushing millions of kids into the asthma abyss. In India replanting is projected as necessary to offset deforestation taking place as a part of the infrastructure building process and adequate caution is called for in deciding what type of plants should be used in this program in the light of the above report.
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V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

THE COALITION DHARMA FOR HEALTHY FOODS

It is rare that conflicting interests can converge on any issue. The four stake holders in the food front in a country are consumers, retailers, industry and the government, each with different responsibilities and interests. While the retailers and the industry strive to maximize their profits, consumers and the government expect certain quality and absolute safety at reasonable cost. Ideally these stake holders must have a consultative mechanism to sort out issues that tend to crop up from time to time. With privatization becoming a buzz word in many countries including India, governments do have the responsibility to keep in check tendency to short circuit the consumer through appropriate policy orchestration.

In countries where overweight and obesity have become endemic, there is no alternative but to collectively approach the problem by all the stake holders to reverse the dangerous trend. Here is an example. "An unprecedented coalition of more than 40 retailers, non-governmental organizations and food and beverage manufacturers today announced the launch of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a national, multi-year effort designed to help reduce obesity -- especially childhood obesity -- by 2015. The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation will promote ways to help people achieve a healthy weight through energy balance. It focuses on three critical areas -- the marketplace, the workplace and schools".

Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) often work for the safety of the consumers by bringing to surface problems which otherwise get overlooked. The coalition like the above may lack the punch as there is no presence of government in the coalition, though the avowed purpose seems to be more education oriented.

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

QUICK TESTING OF FOOD BORNE PATHOGENS-NEW TECHNOLOGY

Traditionally it takes days together to detect the infections in food, qualitatively identify the microorganism(s) and then quantify the extent of contamination. Unless this type of detailed information is available to the management, no decision can be taken regarding any action necessary in the interest of the consumers and the reputation of the industry. Recent developments in the field of quick testing for pathogens give sufficient basis for optimism that eventually low cost methods will be available soon to test the foods within a few minutes. The 3-minute Anthrax sensor which emerged to counteract bio terrorism threat is a pointer in that direction

Development of commercial kits than can detect and quantify the contaminants will go a long way to enable the industry to introduce stricter monitoring of foods, especially in fresh produce. "Beacon Biotechnology, LLC reports the formation of its subsidiary, Beacon Food Safety, LLC, which is developing a DNA/RNA test that is pathogen specific and will provide accurate, low cost testing for the food industry. The BrightSPOT™ Food Safety Test is disposable and easy to use, enabling immediate, highly sensitive, quantitative detection of multiple food borne pathogens simultaneously.

The difficulty is that pathogen population may be less than 100 cfu per gm in the product but presence of other non-pathogenic species makes the task more difficult. The matter assumes critical dimension in the light of recent spate of Salmonella contamination episodes in the US.

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