|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most cheese brands are underweight, contain harmful levels of sodium
|
|
Saturday, 29 October, 2005, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
P B Jayakumar, Mumbai
|
ese available in India conducted by the Ahemedabad based Consumer Education and Research Society (CERC) revealed that most of the products were underweight as against the label claims and had high sodium content above permissible limits, almost harmful to health, in all the brands.
The study was based on 20 odd samples taken from the supermarkets in Ahmedabad, and included cheese cubes, spreads and slices of Amul and Britannia, cheese blocks of Verka and Diary-Licious and Pizza cheese of Amul, Britannia and Diary-Licious. The brands were tested against the specifications of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and the Bureau of Indian Standards -IS: 2758-1979 for chemical and IS:10281-1982 for sensory parameters. The weights were checked according to the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1997. The samples were also checked for labelling requirements as per PFA Rule 32.
While all four Amul products were slightly above the labelled weight, all four samples of Britannia cubes and five out of six samples of Britannia cheese were underweight. The samples of Britannia cubes marked 200 gm weighed only 191.35 gm, 193.45 gm, 193.20 gm and 195.65 gm.
The study said all brands had high sodium content, which in excess is harmful to health as it causes high blood pressure. Dairy-licious recorded the highest sodium content of 2270 mg per 100 gm, followed by Britannia slice with 1963 mg and Amul cubes with 1947 mg. The study also found that the labelled figure of sodium was much less than what the test found in some brands. As per the guideline by the UK Food Standards Agency, if a product contained more than 500 mg of sodium per 100 gm, the sodium content would be high, said CERC sources.
While the brands were tested for the amount of calcium and protein, it was found that Amul cubes had a calcium content of 903 mg per 100gm and Verka cheese block with 890 mg, as against an ICMR recommended dietary intake of calcium of 800 mg a day for adults. Amul Pizza cheese had the highest amount of protein (24 per cent of the weight) followed by Verka (21 per cent). While the brands were tested for moisture, milk fat, salt and sorbic acid as prescribed by the BIS, it was found all the brands conformed to the standards set by BIS. However, Dairy-licious was found to contain a level of 0.02 % of sorbic acid, as against a BIS limit of 0.1% (1000 ppm). It, however, conformed to the more liberal limit set by the PFA Act of 3000 ppm, said the study.
The study was an eye-opener when the price of 200 gm of cheese of different brands were compared in terms of price and performance. The less expensive brand Amul obtained the highest score, as Amul cheese cubes (Rs 45) got an overall score of 78 while the same quantity of Britannia cubes cost Rs 52 with an overall score of 75.
While seven panellists judged the cheese samples based on appearance, uniform colour, texture and consistency, odour and flavour, defects and taste, Britannia topped the list with a score of 84 in cubes and Amul with 81 points in slices. Dairy-licious block was preferred to Verka with a score of 79 and in cheese spreads, Britannia was preferred with a score of 85. Britannia was also found to have better spreadability on bread than the Amul brand. In the performance test for Pizza cheese, Amul scored the highest with 92 points, when compared to the 48 points of Dairy-licious and 36 points of Britannia.
The study also recommended the consumers Amul as the best buy in three categories of cheese- cubes, slice and spread. It also recommended Verka as the best buy in blocks and Britannia as best buy in pizza cheese. The study suggested the PFA Act and BIS need to specify minimum limits for protein, calcium, Vitamin A and sodium. Further, the label on cheese products should warn the consumers that they are high in sodium and harmful to health. The PFA Act should make it mandatory that as in some other countries, nutritional information should be given on the labels of cheese. In order to avoid microbial contamination, the shops also should be instructed to keep cheese under refrigeration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|