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Warning signals on beverages from June 1
View(s):Crystal clear warnings, as obvious as the traffic-light system ingrained into our brains, will be mandatory on beverage labels from June 1. Red will indicate an excess level of sugar, amber a high-level and green a moderate level, giving the consumer the option to make an informed choice not only to ward off diseases such as diabetes but also to send a signal to beverage manufacturers, the Sunday Times learns.
Reiterating that there are bitter consequences for the so-called sweet-tooth that Sri Lankans blame for their excessive use of sugar, Dr. Lakshman Gamlath, the Health Ministry’s Director of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food Safety, points out that the number of people affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country is sky-rocketing.
Therefore, under the ‘traffic light regulations’ it will be compulsory for the labelling on beverages to indicate in red if the product has 11g of sugar per kilo; in amber if it has between 2-11g of sugar per kilo and in green if it has less than 2g of sugar per kilo. This will enable people to make decisions on information available on the label and curtail their sugar-intake so that they do not become addicted and develop cravings.
“The epidemic of NCDs may soon become a plague,” he says. This is why the Food Control Unit is attempting to warn people about the hazards of sugar. Then they can also prevent their children from going down the slippery path of life-long illness.
A simple way to curb the sugar-intake would also be to take tea or coffee without sugar, says Dr. Gamlath, adding that it is difficult at the start but gradually one gets accustomed to it.
Referring to how the world along with food technology is changing, he says that there is a need to amend the Food Act.
His unit, meanwhile, is also focusing on curbing the over-use and misuse of flavour-enhancers especially monosodium glutamate (MSG) which comes in different names.
including disodium guanylate (DSG) and disodium inosinate (DSI). MSG brings about the ‘umami’ or savoury taste.
Pointing out that the jury is still out on whether MSG is good or bad for the health, Dr. Gamlath says that the problem seems to be over-use and misuse. “In western countries, where the food is mostly boiled, broiled, steamed or grilled, people use a pinch of stuff like MSG to give flavour. Here in Sri Lanka, we seem to load any and every food with bowlfuls of MSG.”
“Did you know that we imported 21.5 million kilos of MSG last year,” he asks, doing a quick calculation to indicate that a person, on average, seems to have consumed about 1kg of MSG last year. There are eight importers of MSG including one big company, it is learnt and Dr. Gamlath’s unit has initiated discussions on regulating MSG imports.
Is MSG being used in weedicides and also in paint as in other countries, he also questions. Referring to the misuse of MSG, he compares it to oxygen which is vital for our existence. If a person needs 20% of oxygen but uses 100%, the consequences would be death. In a similar manner, when one is supposed to use a pinch, if one uses a bowlful, the ill-effects will increase sharply.
Lamenting that although the use of MSG in bakery products is prohibited, bakers have found a loophole and are lacing the filling of such products with MSG, Dr. Gamlath said that he and his team were holding extensive discussions to curb the use of MSG. They are now looking into the possibility of registering MSG importers and through this having controls on its distribution throughout the country.
He urged people including those preparing food at home to switch to natural alternatives such as turmeric, pepper, chillie, ginger, garlic and many more which are not only flavour-enhancers but are also beneficial to the health.
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