Babies born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) have a higher energy requirement than babies born full term and therefore fail to gain weight adequately. Parents of preterm babies and doctors alike are not sure whether breast milk or formula milk alone will meet the energy requirements after the first four months and whether... Continue Reading →
IISc develops a handheld device to detect melamine in milk
Detecting melamine in milk has become extremely easy, quick and inexpensive thanks to a handheld melamine detector developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Tiny amount of silver nitrate is dissolved in 50 ml of distilled water and 2 micro litre of this silver nitrate solution is added to milk along... Continue Reading →
Repeated use of oil leads to increased trans fat content
Beginning next month, manufacturers in India of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) will be required to reduce the trans fat level from the current 10 per cent limit to 5 per cent, says Dr. R.B.N. Prasad, Chairman of the Scientific Panel on Oils and Fats, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. This downward revision... Continue Reading →
Using fat tax to change food consumption behaviour
Using tax as a tool to alter consumer food preferences has been recommended by the World Health Organisation. Mexico provides us with proof that levying additional taxes on non-essential food items that are rich in fat or calories can effectively alter food choices. The country witnessed a 5.1 per cent dip in consumption levels in... Continue Reading →
Is Kerala’s fat tax a mere topping than health initiative?
In a bold step that might have a positive impact on public health, Kerala has become the first State in the country to introduce a 14.5 per cent tax on burgers, pizzas, donuts, sandwiches and pasta sold through branded restaurants. Introducing additional tax on fat-rich food products has been tried out in other countries... Continue Reading →
Sin tax reduces intake of energy-dense food in Mexico
That taxing energy-dense, unhealthy food will result in a drop in consumption levels has come out unequivocally clear in Mexico. In January 2014, Mexico introduced 8 per cent tax on foods items with energy density of over 275 kcal/100 g and one peso per litre of sugar-sweetened beverages. Data of household consumption of nonessential energy-dense... Continue Reading →
Nutrition labelling to take the pinch out of salt
Currently, in India, it is not mandatory to carry information on salt on nutrition labels
Bread makers in India to stop using potassium bromate and potassium iodate additives
The All India Bread Manufacturers’ Association on Thursday (May 26) said it had decided to voluntarily stop using potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives in bread from May 27. Safer alternatives such as ascorbic acid, enzymes and emulsifiers will be used instead. “Many companies are already using these alternatives,” said Mr. Ramesh Mango, president... Continue Reading →
Editorial: On detecting and delaying diabetes
Between 1980 and 2014, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in India more than doubled among men (from 3.7 to 9.1 per cent) and increased by 80 per cent among women (4.6 to 8.3 per cent). In absolute terms, the number of diabetics in India galloped from 11.9 million to 64.5 million in the same period,... Continue Reading →
