Use of reheated edible oil a great threat to public health
The consumption of dishes in again and again reheated oil may expose one to high levels of toxic aldehydes, chemicals known to cause neurodegenerative disease and cancer.
Studies show that even some popular cooking oils, including soybean and sunflower oils, generate high levels of toxic aldehydes when heated and reheated.
Health experts say that individuals should be aware of the fact and the damages that the consumption of reheated edible can cause.
Researches have shown that some of aldehydes generated through reheating of oil dissipate after being produced in cooked oil though many others linger and accumulate and upon consumption, these toxins then reacts with human proteins, enzymes, and hormones, which can lead to serious health problems, said Medical Specialist and ICU Physician at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Muhammad Haroon while talking to ‘The News’.
He said that on heating even the best quality of edible oil several times, it releases toxic aldehydes and the more times the oil is reheated, the concentrations of the toxic chemicals become worse.
He said that ‘Iftar’ dishes like ‘pakoras’, ‘samosas’, ‘kachoris’, ‘jalebis’ etc. fried in again and again reheated oil can be a risk factor for heart disease, breast cancer and prostate along with a number of other health threats and it should be known to public.
It is important that the sale of unpacked edible oil which is going on unnoticed in a number of markets in town poses more serious threat to health as compared to use of quality edible oil.
During the holy month of Ramazan, the consumption of edible oil is increased significantly that provides the wrongdoers a chance to get huge profit margins by selling unbranded, unpacked and recycled edible oil to consumers.
To a query, Dr. Haroon said that by creating awareness among public, the practice of using reheated edible oil for cooking can be discouraged. If people become aware of the harms of use of substandard or recycled edible oil, they would not buy it from market and the menace can be controlled easily, he said.
District Health Officer Dr. Khalid Randhawa expressed to ‘The News’ that the teams of district health department have already working on checking adulteration and sale of substandard foodstuff in markets including sale of substandard edible oil. Our teams have been collecting samples of foodstuff including edible oil for checking their quality, he said.
Source: The News International
Published: 13 July 2014
Category: Features, Health alert
