Latest from our Food Blog
Food Advertisements complaints reported on Advertising Standard Council of India ( ASCI) portal
Did you know a consumer can complain against a misguiding food advertisement? Yes, this is possible. A misleading food advertisement that promotes unhealthy eating could be called off across all media channels. It is important that consumers report their views which can be easily done on the Advertising
Most Common Food Adulterants and Harmful Effects Of Food Adulteration
Whether it’s adulterated olive oil, ash in pepper, chalk in flour, or diluted coffee beans, food adulteration is increasingly a reality of our lives. In fact, commonly consumed food items such as dal, rice, spices, oil, butter and ghee are often targeted by fraudsters. Consumption of such food
Food Adulteration Tests
There are some very simple food adulteration tests that can be conducted at home to know if the food is adulterated or pure. The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has issued a document – titled DART, which stands for ‘Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test’ –
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 and Food Safety and Standards Act 2006
Food is our basic necessity for sustenance of life. Pure, fresh and healthy meals are most essential for our bodies. However, when quality of food is lowered either by addition of inferior quality material or by extraction of valuable ingredient is known as food adulteration. In India, adulteration
Health Benefits of Curd
Curd is full of calcium, vitamin D, protein and healthy gut bacteria. There is no doubt that curd is full of nutrition and will benefit you if you include it in your daily diet. Consider these benefits:
a) Strong Bones and Teeth: Curd is a rich source
Fresh Fruit Juice vs Packaged juice
Let’s get to know some facts about fruit juices first:
In pure (100%) juices, added sugar is not permitted; in beverages/drinks it is permitted.
A large part of the sugar found in fruit juice is fructose. The liver is the only organ that can metabolise fructose
Loving foods that love you back
Nutrition and health are much talked-about subjects but do we really make rational consumption choices in our everyday lives? Here are some foods that will do you good, and others that will make you overdraw on your body’s energy reserves
Ever really taken a
9 ways to eat healthier right now
Food marketers and fitness proponents, both are cashing in on the consumer anxiety and fetish with health. Yet, junk foods and several other foods with no nutrition are hogging shelf space in markets. From the health and environmental perspectives, there are foods that one
Is Soya Healthy?
Marketed as a super food with almost magical properties, soya protein is found in almost everything we eat. However, soya needs to be consumed with abundant caution
The excess revenue comes to Rs 8.12 crore, out of which the prize money distributed was worth
Wasting all that food
Think.Eat.Save. The people behind World Environment Day this year have most certainly deliberately left out the spaces between the words. Perhaps so that we make the connection between our food choices and the larger impacts of these choices—and realize that the connection is too
A little science in the kitchen
How to make food—specially fresh produce—last long enough to be used up
Did you know that storing cabbage, cucumbers, and leafy vegetables alongside tomatoes and apples causes the greens to decay? This is because some foods are great ethylene-producers and quickly spoil other foods
Chemical Cuisine
There is enough evidence to suggest that food additives and artificial colours cause harm to health and children are the worst-affected. In several countries, the use of food colours like ‘Sunset Yellow’ is either banned or regulated. But not so in India
We have
Chemicals in your breakfast bread
It has been found time and again that processed and packaged food, however ‘natural, contains additives and chemicals that are controversial, or outright harmful to human health. Bread, that is the most common processed breakfast food, has a suspected tumour-causing additive, Potassium Bromate, in
White Bread vs Brown Bread
Bread has become an important part of our plate. A wide variety of options to select from in the market confuses us. White bread, brown bread, multi-grain bread are just few to choose from. An aware consumer should know the difference between white and
What is the difference between powdered milk and dairy whitener?
There is an increase in the use of dairy whitener in tea and coffee. Those who use them find that it dissolves easily and gives your tea a very great whitening ability and it also has the ability to lighten the coffee to produce
What do Food Labels say?
Food Labels or Nutrition Labels or nutritional labeling serves as the main communication link between the manufacturer and the consumer. Through food nutrition labels, a manufacturer introduces the content of his product to the consumer. Food labels help the consumer to understand the nutrient composition of the packed
Traffic Light Labeling System
In 2007, Food Standard Agency of UK developed a method of labeling food with a traffic light showing how much fat, sugar and salt are in that food. High Content (unhealthy) is shown by red, Medium (moderate) by amber and Low (healthy) by Green colors. Food with Green
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
Nutrition is a basic human need and a prerequisite to a healthy life. A proper diet is essential from the very early stages of life for proper growth, development and to remain active. RDA represents the nutrients in terms of diets that should be
Food Fortification-Why do we need it?
Micro-nutrient deficiencies affect not only the poor. Less obvious but nonetheless important are the effects of today’s lifestyles in the developed world on nutritional status. There are increased food choices, yes, but low micro-nutrient densities. The hectic pace of life can lead to inadequacies
What is Proprietary Food?
Proprietary food means an article of food that has not been standardized under Food Safety & Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, but does not include any novel foods, foods for special dietary uses, foods for special medical purposes, functional foods, nutaceuticals and health supplements.
Salty Health
Reducing salt intake may help manage blood pressure and prevent water retention. If you are taking medication for these conditions, it is still important to reduce salt intake to help the medication work more effectively.
Pregnant women should not restrict the amount of sodium
To Your Health
Consumer VOICE brings you a quick – ready reckoner for the food we all consume every day, but what is needed is some planning, mixing and matching to meet your specific health needs. It is good to know which food does what for you and to
FOOD SNIPPETS
DRINK MILK TO BOOST BRAIN POWER
No matter how old you are, drink at least a glass of milk everyday if you want to sharpen your mental skills, say researchers of University of Maine.
A new study has claimed that drinking a glass of
Buying Organic Food on a Budget
There are plenty of studies in scientific journals about the damaging effects of chemicals in our food, but it is also true that finding organic produce on a budget is quite difficult. The reality is that currently most organic products come at a premium
Are you addicted to sugar foods?
Ever wondered why it is so difficult to give up chocolates or stop craving for your favourite doughnut? Why do we feel drawn to that sugary drink despite being completely aware that it’s unhealthy? The answer could lie within our complex brain setup.
What is Organic Food
Organic food is the result of a farming system which avoids the use of pesticides and man-made fertilisers, Organic farming promotes ecological balance and conserves biodiversity. They are produced without use of genetically modified or GM components.
ORGANIC FOOD
Myth vs Reality#MythOrganic Food
12 food additives to avoid
Hungry? How does a cheese sandwich on whole wheat with potato chips sound? Does munching on nitrate, sodium stearyl lactylate, and monocalcium phosphate have the same appeal? Probably not, but a look at the ingredients of pre-packaged stuff and almost every other type of
Organic Food
You can call it a health status or just a part of lifestyle – organic food is making waves everywhere. If some are buying organic products from the market, some have started their own little organic farm in their terrace or small farms.
But
Yogurt a Top Health Food
In India, Yogurt is yogurt, dahi is the Indian word for yogurt and curds is a term also used for yogurt. In the US, curds are a dairy product obtained by curdling (coagulating) milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon
Chocolates: should they be refrigerated?
The recent episode when live worms were found in Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate has shown how the seemingly safe food product can become hazardous to health. The excuse that Cadbury’s is putting forth is that the worm infestation has been due to poor storage
Check your spices: there could be dung, sand, husk, colour…
This is not just another article to inform you about what harm can be caused by eating adulterated spices. That much has been talked about enough and you know all that you should. This write-up is more of a practical guide for you to
What is Basmati Rice and how is different from other varieties?
What is Basmati Rice?
Basmati is a type of long-grain aromatic rice. Basmati rice is a special quality of rice that is grown in India and Pakistan. Basmati rice has a unique fragrance and flavor caused due to presence of a chemical called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. This chemical is
Nutritional Value of Rice
Post harvesting, rice grains go through different production processes in the factories. The process leads to production of different types of rice. These processes are called milling and polishing. These processes not only changes the shape and size of the rice kernel, it also
Some Healthy Tips for sugar free diet
The first step towards overcoming sugar addiction and stop sugar cravings is to become aware that you are addicted to sugar or such food items. Maintaining a food diary will help a lot. It will help you to understand your food-consumption pattern. What compels
What is Food Carbon Footprint
We all are aware that greenhouse gas emissions which include carbon dioxide emissions and human activities like burning of oil, coal and gas, as well as deforestation that are damaging for our environment and cause of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. But many of us are not
Adopt Vegan Cheese or Dairy Free Cheese for a Healthy Environment
Morning breakfast with cheese omelette is something most of us relish. But did you know that cheese other than adding to your cholesterol level has a high carbon footprint thereby damaging the environment as well?
Cheese has a high carbon footprint because it
What is Saturated Fat?
Saturated fat is a bad fat found in meat and dairy products like full cream milk, cheese, butter and cream. Many cooked foods like pizza, sausage, and dairy desserts. In technical terms, saturated fats are simply fat molecules with no double bonds between carbon
How to Reduce Food Carbon Footprint
If you are thinking of ways on how to reduce food carbon footprint, avoiding meat is the first thing that needs to be done as per most research studies. Food carbon footprint or foodprint requires immediate attention as growing, rearing, processing and transporting and
GMO Foods or Genetically Modified Goods – Should you Eat them?
According to World Health Organization (WHO), genetically modified foods (GMO Foods) are those food items that are produced by using genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms could be plants, animals or microbes. They are produced in a way whose DNA or genetic material has been modified with the
Oil Shelf Life
How long does oil last? What is the oil shelf life? Oil shelf life depends on the best before date and how it is stored. Though we tend to use oil even after the expiry date, oil does go bad.
The declared oil shelf life of the most
How is GMO Food Labeling Done?
GM Foods are now consumed regularly in India. Cottonseed oil, soybean oil, brinjal (eggplant), and rice are some of the commonly
consumer GM foods in India. Considering that GM foods shall soon be available commercially in India and that a lot of genetically modified foods are being used
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF GROUNDNUT OIL?
Are you looking for the best groundnut oil for your food? Then your search stops here. Consumer VOICE brings an analysis of the best groundnut oil and helps you to choose between refined groundnut oil and filtered groundnut oil. Oil not only improves the taste of the food
What are the GMO Pros and Cons?
Genetically modified organisms or GMOs are foods which have been in the market for more than 2 decades now. Genetically modified organisms or micro-organisms are those organisms whose genetic makeup has been manipulated by artificially inserting components of another organism. There has been extensive research by scientists from all
Organic Certification and Symbols for Organic Food in India
It’s true, of course, that there’s relatively less awareness about organic products, what goes into the process, how is their credibility established, what are the long-term effects, and so on. consumers often assume that foods that are labelled ‘organic’ are good for health and they can be consumed
Are Organic Food Products Healthier and Expensive too?
Many studies suggest that organic foods products are safer and healthier than other conventionally grown food items, in addition to being better for the environment. Organic fruits and vegetables and other products have less chemical exposure and some products are more nutritious than the conventional food products.
Sunflower Oil Benefits
Sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds of sunflower. It is used for cooking and frying and also as an emollient n the cosmetic formulations. Let’s see what sunflower benefits are and why it is considered the healthiest cooking oil:
High Vitamin Content
How is sugar made?
What is Sugar?
Sugar is the generic name for sweet, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. There are various types of sugar, derived from different sources. Simple sugars are called monosaccharides and include glucose, fructose and galactose.
Processing of sugar or Sugar Production Process
The
Benefits of Ghee and Cow Ghee
Ghee is a clarified type of butter, meaning that it has been simmered into a concentrate and the residue has been removed. What remains is basically a pure combination of fats, without any milk residue, which means that it does not need to be refrigerated. We understand what
Food Advertisements complaints reported on Advertising Standard Council of India ( ASCI) portal
Did you know a consumer can complain against a misguiding food advertisement? Yes, this is possible. A misleading food advertisement that promotes unhealthy eating could be called off across all media channels. It is important that consumers report their views which can be easily done on the Advertising
Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (FSSA)
Food safety is a major public health concern. There are specific laws, mandates and regulations in India to maintain the quart of food and to ensure food safety. In fact, there are regulations for ways in which a food product can be promoted. The Food Safety and Standards
Report a problem with food on the Food Safety Connect Application ( App)
Has it happened that you opened a food packet and found an insect or a hair strand in it? Have you then wondered what actions you might take to report the same? Consumers play an important role in ensuring food safety. Suppose a food product complaint is registered
Difference between Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert
These days, many of the products in the ice cream aisle at any given grocery store are ‘frozen desserts’ that are often made with edible oil products and do not contain the nutrients naturally found in milk. Consumers must read the nutrition facts on the label to know
What is flavoured milk?
Flavoured milk is a ready-to- drink product, produced from milk, sugar and natural flavours (such as banana, pineapple, orange or chocolate). Milk is a good source of nutrition and this product is a healthy option for children and adults alike. Read more on know your milk: nutritious milk
Micronutrients Deficiency Diseases List
What are Micronutrients and its importance
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals required in small amounts that are essential to our health, development and growth. Proper intake of vitamins and minerals can mean the difference between a healthy, productive life, and a life fraught with illness. Micronutrients Deficiency Diseases
Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC)
The Food Fortification Resource Centre is a body that acts as a resource and support centre to promote large-scale fortification of food across India. It came into existence after the National Summit on Fortification of Food (2016), as a joint declaration by all stakeholders to fight micronutrient malnutrition
Food Fortification: Advantages and Disadvantages
Food fortification is the process of adding micronutrients such as essential trace elements and vitamins to a food item. It is done to improve the nutritive values of the food. These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing.
Know your Milk Nutrition Facts
Milk is a well-accepted and wholesome food and beverage for all age groups. It contains most of the nutrients necessary for growth and development. It is, therefore, especially useful or feeding infants, toddlers, growing children and expectant women and nursing mothers. All the macronutrients and micronutrients are present
Cooking oils: Choose the best
The “ideal” cooking oil should contain a higher amount of the “good” fats (omega-3 and 9), and minimal saturated fats and trans fats. We bring you a detailed insight into what the marketed variety of cooking oil brands contain. Read about what is Good” and what is Bad.
Aseptic Processing
In this process, the food item is packed into a sterile container under sterile conditions and sealed in a way that microbial contamination is prevented. The food products that undergo aseptic processing are shelf-stable and have a longer shelf life. Non-sterile foods such as
All about Canned Food or Processed Food
Food when processed, sealed and preserved in airtight containers is called canned food or processed food. Canning improves the shelf life of the food content ranging from one to five years.
Canning is a safe method for preserving food. It involves placing foods in
Check your spices: there could be dung, sand, husk, colour…
This is not just another article to inform you about what harm can be caused by eating adulterated spices. That much has been talked about enough and you know all that you should. This write-up is more of a practical guide for you to find out if spices
Huge Differences in the Sugar and Salt Content of Global Breakfast Cereal Brands
WASH (World Action on Salt & Health), a global group with the mission to improve the health of populations throughout the world by achieving a gradual reduction in salt intake which has 527 members from 95 countries conducted survey of nutritional composition (sugar and
Special feature CSR
Doing Well by Doing Good. Are they?
They come, they see opportunities, and they conquer markets. The large automobile companies, the FMCG majors, the banking, insurance, healthcare and even education service providers, the apparel leaders, the electronics and durable giants… all of them are
