MSG key cause for obesity: Experts
The government should ensure it relooks into the food
Update: 2015-06-04 05:45 GMT
Coimbatore: The 2-minute noodle has been under the scanner over the last fortnight for the Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and lead that have been found in excess, well over the permissible limit. MSG or Aginomotto as it is popularly known by its brand name, is one of the main causes of infant obesity, say health experts. While this is banned in infant food manufactured for those less than one year, there is no upper limit of MSG in other food products in India. MSG is a salt-like product that is used as a taste enhancer. The lead in the noodles is, however, said to be 17.2 parts per million as against the permissible limit of 10 ppm, the designated officer of Food Safety, Kathiravan said.
Consumption of lead in excess over a prolonged period could be dangerous to children as it can permanently damage their brain. Among children it may lead to stomach upsets and chronic pain. In worst cases, it may also result in damage to red blood cells which will in turn limit the ability towards carrying oxygen to various organs and tissues in the body, he added.
Secretary of Citizens Voice Club, CMJ Raman said that products that have been banned in other countries are sold in India because life has no value here. The country has become a testing ground for foreign companies. The politicians and bureaucrats who formulate policies should remember that their own kith and kin may fall a prey to these harmful products.
Medicines like Vicks Action 500, Novalgin, Proxivon (pain killer), D-Cold, Disprin, Lomfen (anti-diarrheal) have been banned in the West but are conveniently available over the counters in India. The government should ensure it relooks into the food and medicinal products that are available for sale fall well within the permissible limits and do not cause harm to the consumers.
If you try taking Kinder Surprise egg, the chocolate most preferred by children here, into the US, you would be fined $2,500. This is because the toy which is kept in a compartment of the egg shaped case of the chocolate is deemed a choking risk for small children. But in India it does not matter.
“The celebrities who have been endorsing such products should exhibit some sense of responsibility. When the whole nation prayed for the health of Amitabh Bachchan when he was sick, by endorsing a product like Maggi, it only means he does not bother about the people of the country”, he added.
Maggi off shelves in most shops in Kovai
Most premier department stores, including Nilgiris and Big Bazaar, in the city have removed Maggi products from their shelves. Nilgiris departmental outlets were among the first chain stores to take Maggi products off the shelves this morning. “Customer’s safety is our prime priority and so even as we await instructions, we have decided to remove the products from the shelves”, said a store official.
Big Bazaar in Race Course has already cleared all Nestle Maggi products from its shelf. The store manager said "Big Bazaar across the state (and country) has been instructed to remove the products from the shelves and we have removed all Maggi variants. We will not be selling it until we get further instructions," he said.
The store manager at Kannan Departmental Stores in Cross Cut said that they have received instructions and would be removing the Maggi products across all the branches in the city.
The customers who came to the store were curious to know why the products were not removed and we assured that they would be off the shelves, he said. An employee of the old and famous Rangasamy Chettiar Sons and Co at R S Puram said Maggi packets were taken off the shelves this morning.