The day started with low BP !!! Here I was taking medication for high BP and suddenly the symptoms were different and I intuitively felt it was low BP. We went to the lab inside our condo complex and our friend Alam was available. He took the BP reading and indeed it was low BP. I immediately drank some coffee and got a bottle of ORS ready. It still took a few hours before things got back to normal. As I sat down to blog I realised it was World Food Safety Day ! What a coincidence.
In our anxiety to ascertain the cause of my low BP, we went through the entire gamut of what I ate yesterday, and read, re-read the food labels on some of the packaged items. With the use of stabilisers, emulsifiers, food colourants, preservatives etc, the shelf life of packaged food has been increased but the side effects of many of these “chemicals” is not fully understood.
Food Safety is a big issue the world over. We love watching programs related to food like Masterchef, Kitchen Nightmares, Restaurant Impossible etc. The documentary Eating Our Way To Extinction 😳 opened our eyes to the world of “food” safety in developed countries. Even food that’s freshly prepared in restaurants may not be safe. Packaged food is a whole another story.
World Food Safety Standards
Not many of us in India know that we have a strong regulatory body for Food Safety.
India’s FSSAI – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India determines the standards for us. “The foremost responsibility of FSSAI include the development of ‘Science-based Food Standards for articles of food and food products and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.”
As an example, the FSSAI brought in the need for expiry dates on packaged food. Even things like Ghee and Honey that don’t get spoilt need to have an expiry date on them. Even food that’s imported has to follow FSSAI’s guidelines.
FSSAI keeps releasing different advisories. For example – the use of “Masala” or Calcium Carbide for ripening of fruits is banned in India. How many of us knew this ?
Just visit the website – FSSAI to know about food safety and the standards that regulate manufacturers in India. It’s important to be aware of what we are eating because several diseases are linked to food. Lifestyle diseases are on the rise and the only way to remain healthy is becoming aware of food labels, supplements, ripening processes etc.
Health Drinks Anyone ?
A month or so back, there was a video about the dangers of drinking Bournvita that had to be taken down by the social media influencer because he was sued by Cadbury. Here is Palki Sharma talking about it and the dangerous trend of non-qualified health “experts”. Outlandish claims by FMCG/Pharma companies on the benefits of their products are also questionable.
FSSAI has come down heavily on such advertisers. Do read the press release embedded here and an excerpt says “Consumers can lodge their complaints through the FSSAI website or the Food Safety Connect App, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms. The FSSAI has also set up a toll-free number (1800112100) where consumers can register their complaints.”
Disclaimer : Please don’t self medicate nor start any supplements without consulting your doctor. What works for one person does not work for the other as each of us have a unique body constitution. Eat Healthy to Stay Healthy.
#EatHealthyToStayHealthy