Saturday February 14, 2009

Junk or time-saver?

As we stumble through the complex maze of a multi-million-dollar food industry, one of the questions we must ask ourselves is: Is processed food safe?

“Processed food like canned, dried or frozen foods play a role in our diets because of our busy lifestyles as it’s not always possible to use fresh food,” says Dr Tee E Siong, the president of Nutrition Society of Malaysia.

“But the consumer should rely more on natural foods or choose food with less additives.”

But Tee adds that if the label says the food contains permitted food colouring or flavouring, these additives are permitted by the food laws in the country. Food additives, natural or synthetic, are colours, flavour enhancers, sweeteners, emulsifiers and stabilizers, and preservatives.

CAP president S. M. Mohamed Idris (in songkok). — CHARLES MARIASOOSAY/The Star

“These ‘permitted’ additives have been evaluated by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and approved for use. For instance, monosodium glutamate or MSG is an approved flavour enhancer. Just don’t use it excessively,” Tee explains.

MOH takes random samples of processed foods from retail outlets to check on additives, contaminants and other quality factors required in our food regulation. Companies that flout regulations are fined.

“There are always some black sheep in the food industry but in general, most companies comply with the food regulation,” says Tee.

Over the years, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has been sending food samples to external laboratories for independent testing. The association has doctors on their advisory board. Food testing reveals if banned substances are still used. CAP’s findings are meant to prompt the authorities to take further action against certain food manufacturers.

“After so many years, banned chemicals like Rhodamine B, Beta-agonists and Boric acid are still found in food,” says CAP President S. M. Mohamed Idris. Some of these so-called “permitted levels” of chemicals have been banned in other countries.

“In 2007, CAP found Rhodamine B, a chemical dye used in textile and plastic products, added into belacan (shrimp paste) and Chinese buns (huat kuih and mi ku) from samples sold in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

“Why do we need to accept chemicals in small doses though they have been linked to serious diseases and adverse health reactions?” questions Mohamed.

“Even with permitted levels, there’s a danger of cumulative doses from eating more of the same food over a time period, or a variety of foods which contain the same substance.”

Some additives can cause severe allergies, asthma, hyperactivity and anaphylactic shock. And it’s more critical when ingested by children. But it’s impossible for MOH’s Food Safety and Quality Control division to test every single food item that floods the market.

However, MOH can increase its enforcement and impose more severe penalties on companies who flout the food laws.

In short, it’s up to us, the consumers, to be more aware and demand that food be safe.

As Mohamed sums up, “The government will have no choice but to ensure that safe food is what we get on our plates.”

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