Bengaluru: Following concerns raised over the decision to distribute spirulina chikki to hostels and residential schools functioning under it, the social welfare department has decided to seek the opinion of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
As the school education department banned chikkis, the social welfare department decided to introduce spirulina chikki to its hostels and residential schools. The proposal was to supply CFTRI-approved nutritional powder and peanuts — spirulina chikki to 1,17,500 students. Spirulina is an blue-green algae that is rich source of protein, copper and vitamin B, and considered a dietary supplement.
The nutritional powder — a packet of 50g each — was to be distributed 82 times, and peanuts — packet of 20 grams — 36 times in a 10-month academic year, as per the plans. A tender was called for the same. However, nutritionists and health experts raised concerns over the decision. “Spirulina is used when there is limited access to nutritious foods, and it is known for absorbing heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. It is grown around industries for this purpose to absorb toxins from these harmful effluents. Mass manufacture of spirulina in regulated conditions is difficult,” explained Dr Sylvia Karpagam, public health activist.
“When there are well-known foods that are culturally enjoyed by people of the state, which can also generate employment for local groups, what is the need to have these elaborate packaged and processed foods that are a waste of taxpayers’ money? Eggs and milk, milk products, and meat are highly nutritious foods and also enjoyed by students in hostels,” she added.
“There is no need for ‘nutritional powders‘ which will finally end up with millets or wheat or green gram or soya: the nutrients from these foods have poor bioavailability (ability to be absorbed and used by the body). Groundnuts can be provided. It is unclear why the groundnut chikkis were removed,” she said.
It may be recalled that the department of school education and literacy decided to drop chikki from the midday meal menu in the state. Chikki/banana was given as an alternative to eggs in midday meals. Chikki was dropped following concerns over the quality of the product that was being distributed in the schools. The department noted that in many instances, the groundnuts were contaminated and stale. “Spirulina is a plant that is not native to India, but to South America. Several pharmaceutical companies are trying hard to sell it as a superfood. However, studies have proven that the nutrients in them disappear in a few weeks. Nutrients get destroyed on exposure to heat, moisture, etc., and spirulina has to be transported. It has been proved that there is no advantage in using spirulina,” said Veena Shatrughna, nutritionist and researcher.
She asked why can’t children be given native ingredients like groundnut with jaggery, which are rich in nutrients. “Why do we have to experiment on our children? Have we ever asked our children what they want? Have any of the officials who are introducing it eaten this?” she asked.
Following the concerns raised, the department of social welfare said that a final decision will be taken after consulting CFTRI. “CFTRI is the expert in food and nutrition and will be the final word in this,” said a senior official from the department.
Bengaluru: Following concerns raised over the decision to distribute spirulina chikki to hostels and residential schools functioning under it, the social welfare department has decided to seek the opinion of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
As the school education department banned chikkis, the social welfare department decided to introduce spirulina chikki to its hostels and residential schools. The proposal was to supply CFTRI-approved nutritional powder and peanuts — spirulina chikki to 1,17,500 students. Spirulina is an blue-green algae that is rich source of protein, copper and vitamin B, and considered a dietary supplement.
The nutritional powder — a packet of 50g each — was to be distributed 82 times, and peanuts — packet of 20 grams — 36 times in a 10-month academic year, as per the plans. A tender was called for the same. However, nutritionists and health experts raised concerns over the decision. “Spirulina is used when there is limited access to nutritious foods, and it is known for absorbing heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. It is grown around industries for this purpose to absorb toxins from these harmful effluents. Mass manufacture of spirulina in regulated conditions is difficult,” explained Dr Sylvia Karpagam, public health activist.
“When there are well-known foods that are culturally enjoyed by people of the state, which can also generate employment for local groups, what is the need to have these elaborate packaged and processed foods that are a waste of taxpayers’ money? Eggs and milk, milk products, and meat are highly nutritious foods and also enjoyed by students in hostels,” she added.
“There is no need for ‘nutritional powders’ which will finally end up with millets or wheat or green gram or soya: the nutrients from these foods have poor bioavailability (ability to be absorbed and used by the body). Groundnuts can be provided. It is unclear why the groundnut chikkis were removed,” she said.
It may be recalled that the department of school education and literacy decided to drop chikki from the midday meal menu in the state. Chikki/banana was given as an alternative to eggs in midday meals. Chikki was dropped following concerns over the quality of the product that was being distributed in the schools. The department noted that in many instances, the groundnuts were contaminated and stale. “Spirulina is a plant that is not native to India, but to South America. Several pharmaceutical companies are trying hard to sell it as a superfood. However, studies have proven that the nutrients in them disappear in a few weeks. Nutrients get destroyed on exposure to heat, moisture, etc., and spirulina has to be transported. It has been proved that there is no advantage in using spirulina,” said Veena Shatrughna, nutritionist and researcher.
She asked why can’t children be given native ingredients like groundnut with jaggery, which are rich in nutrients. “Why do we have to experiment on our children? Have we ever asked our children what they want? Have any of the officials who are introducing it eaten this?” she asked.
Following the concerns raised, the department of social welfare said that a final decision will be taken after consulting CFTRI. “CFTRI is the expert in food and nutrition and will be the final word in this,” said a senior official from the department.
