Abstract

AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF FOOD ADULTERANTS AND IMPARTING AWARENESS OF ITS HEALTH IMPACT TO RURAL POPULATION IN FIELD PRACTICE AREA OF MYSORE MEDICAL COLLEGE, MYSORE

Srishti Srivastava, Ananya Sathyanarayana and Manjunatha Nagaraja*

Abstract

Background: Food consumed could be adulterated with a variety of adulterants. This study was conducted in Hosakote taluk of Karnataka, where the high school children were given questionnaires to obtain information about their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding food safety and food adulteration. Food samples were brought by the children which were tested using the food adulteration kit and results were reported. Awareness was created regarding harmful effects of adulteration and simple way of detecting them at home. Methods: Total of 112 students was given questionnaires. 50 students brought food samples from households, which were tested by the food adulteration kit by CFTRI, Mysore. Information pamphlets were printed in English and in regional language and circulated among children to create awareness among students and their family. Results: 32% students were found to be underweight, 64% normal, 4% in the overweight and obese. 78% of students were aware of the existence of food adulteration. 95% of the above thought it was harmful but did not know about simple home detection methods. 24% samples brought by students were found adulterated. Commonly adulteration was seen in milk where water was mixed. Second was rice being adulterated with sand, twigs and husk and excessive food coloring seen in few samples of savouries. Conclusion: Though students are aware about the practice of food adulteration, most of them lack practical knowledge on how to detect and avoid it. Children should be made aware of the ill- effects of excessive food coloring and harmful additives and guided towards making safer food choices.

Keywords: Adulteration, Awareness, Children, additives.