A dailymail.co.uk article from Allan Hough

[dho...@hct.ac.ae]

FSA alert

Cancer chemical alert over crisps and coffee as Food Standards Agency identifies 13 at-risk products

Food firms in Britain have been warned about the presence of a cancer-risk chemical in everyday products ranging from crisps and chips to instant coffee and ginger biscuits.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2132943/Cancer-chemical-alert-crisps-coffee.html

21 April 2012
www.dailymail.co.uk

[AFS BY SPECIFICO & CO]

Dear Allan,

 

I am glad you are posting this article.

 

I am a big believer that our main concern should be chemicals more than microbes, microbes can make us ill, we might even go to hospital and in rare cases die. but nobody is noticing the increase of cancer all over the world, mainly from the increased consumption of processed foods and manufactured foods to which chemicals are added or in which chemicals are formed because of hightec and sophisticated processing practices.

 

All studies and statistics are confirming that the number one reason behind cancer is food, followed by smoking, so it is something to highly consider whereas increasing the concern of chemicals and transfats in our Food Safety Management systems is required by government and policy makers, is it because their impact is of a very long term that governments are still not taking the proper action?

 

some people would answer nothing has been proved yet, then what is the firm confirmation? when more people die of cancer?

 

Rita Abou Obeid

AFS by Specifico & Co.

[Bobby Krishna]

Dear Rita,

My comments are below:

//but nobody is noticing the increase of cancer all over the world, mainly from the increased consumption of processed foods and manufactured foods to which chemicals are added or in which chemicals are formed because of hightec and sophisticated processing practices.//

1. If no one is noticing the chemical risks, why do we have these regulations on the use of food additives?

Why are we restricting the use of packaging materials, disinfectants and pesticides? 

//some people would answer nothing has been proved yet, then what is the firm confirmation? when more people die of cancer?//

I think you have to be specific here. Which chemical toxin are you talking about? 

There has been an increase in certain types of cancer but at the same time, there has been a decrease in some types of cancers as well. People are living longer and we have better diagnosis of illnesses than what was in the past- this kind of affects the numbers in a big way. Look at the increase in life expectancy from the 1950s http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=sp_dyn_le00_in&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=life+expectancy+world.

There is evidence that colorectal cancer and gastric cancer is on the raise but not just because of reasons that you have sited. Please check out these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomach_cancer 

http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/cup/current_progress/colorectal_cancer.php

 In case of chemical risks, quantity of consumption plays a major role. If eaten in limited quantities, most chemicals are safe. Pesticide residues are a problem in lesser developed countries, but developed countries do not have that problem. 

Chemical risk assessment, especially with regard to chemicals such as acrylamide,  is a complex process and requires a lot of resources. We do closely follow the outcomes of what is published by joint commissions of FAO and take appropriate measures to control those chemicals/additives. With increasing research, we will continue to find more problems and technology of processing may offer us better solutions.

Microbiological risks always get high priority because we always think 'short term.'  No one likes to have  diarrhea and stay in the bed when they are flying to Dubai for a couple of dates to enjoy. But, if you tell someone that they will be sick 20 years later, they are not going to be bothered.

When we avoid processed foods, we will have to increase consumption of raw, unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables. Microbiological safety will become even more important with that change in dietary pattern. 

Regards

Bobby

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Bobby Krishna

Interested in food safety? 
 

[spec...@gmail.com]

Hi Bobby,

I wasn't referring specifically to Dubai. I meant in general, what is banned in Dubai has access still to many countries. And in the culture of people in households, u still see plastic containers used randomly, chips and fries consumed in high excess... My point is people need to become more aware and emphasis should be given to this matter more.

Rita Abou Obeid
Managing Partner

AFS by Specifico & Co.

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From: Bobby Krishna <bobbyk...@gmail.com>

Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:03:29 +0400

To: AFS BY SPECIFICO & CO<spec...@gmail.com>

Cc: <foodsaf...@googlegroups.com>; <dho...@hct.ac.ae>

Subject: Re: {Food Safety Dubai} Re: A dailymail.co.uk article from Allan Hough