BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, June 5 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology -Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) warned the public against unhealthy foods that could lead to heart disease and even cancer due to the presence of too much preservative.
Marilou Galang, senior science and research specialist of DOST-FNRI in a recent NUTRICOMNET media forum said the use of nitrates and nitrites in processed foods as preservatives is linked to cancer and increased heart disease.
Galang cited foods such as hotdogs, bacons and other processed meat which have “carcinogenic nitrosamines” which, when exposed to high temperature can cause cancer.
According to Galang, a study conducted by the FNRI showed that among the food products in the supermarkets found to have the highest nitrite concentration are tocino products manufactured in Las Pinas which yielded 339.3 mg/kg and longganisa in Southern Leyte with 328.8 mg/kg nitrate concentration.
Likewise, processed meats are high in sodium and saturated fats which makes one susceptible to developing heart ailment.
Galang further warned consumers about “botcha,” a double-dead meat from an animal that has died of a disease. Those who consumed double-dead meat can contract all sorts of illnesses while even when cooked have no assurance that all the bacteria are eliminated.
A provision under the Consumer act of the Philippines stated a penalty of P100, 000 to one million plus imprisonment if caught selling illegal and unsafe products like “botcha.” “Such unsafe food when consumed can cause diarrhea or seizures which could lead to death,” said Galang.
Another thing she cautioned was the plumping of chicken which is also unsafe. Some inject raw chicken with salt water to make the meat bigger in size making the original weight like from 0.75 kilo to 1.25 kilos for bigger profit.
“This is unhealthy because for every serving of chicken that contains 200-500 mg of sodium compared to only around 45-70 mg sodium in an unenhanced chicken increases the risks of hypertension and worse, a heart attack,” said Galang.
Galang urged media to help them disseminate to the public some unhealthy foods that people should be wary of. (mbcn/FCR/ PIA7-Cebu with reports from Mary Jane G. Conciliado, intern)