Introduction
Paravur
Town, and its suburban areas like Cherai, Vadakekkara,
Kottuvally and
Perumpadanna consist of people who belong to different socio
economic strata. Fishermen, labourers and farmers constitute the
major part of the population. They are ignorant of the hidden danger
in each item they consume.
One
thing that I observe is, many people today are suffering from more
stomach troubles that they had to in earlier days. Most of the
people complain about gas trouble in their stomach, constipation,
belching and heart burning. Even school children are facing numerous
health problems like food poisoning, dysentery, cholera, diarrhoea,
gastroenteritis, chron’s disease, lead poison etc. This is mainly,
I feel due to the chemicals added in food stuffs. Majority of
adulterants used by the shopkeepers are cheap substitutes which are
easily available. It is the act of intentionally debasing the
quality of food offered for sale either by mixture or substitution of
inferior substances or by the removal of some valuable ingredient.
The consumers are not aware of hazards of adulteration and pay
heavily for consuming adulterated food. It has become so common that
the consumers have to run from pillars to pillars to get a foodstuff
free from chemicals. If the consumer knows the ways and means to
check the commodities of daily use, they can save themselves and
their families from this mind-boggling problem. This study gives us
awareness about the chemicals in food items, how to identify them and
move more closer to Nature by following the conventional pattern of
life. We are very fortunate to be born in India, a country which is
blessed with rich soil, diversified climate, many rivers and the
great Himalayas where almost all varieties of fruits, vegetables and
cereals, etc. can be grown. Through this project I would like to
create an awareness among a few who live around and help to lead a
poison free life in my small town. We want to make aware that food
is what we eat and food provides us various nutrients to regulate
our body processes, protect us from diseases and satisfies our lungs
which give us a sense of psychological satisfaction. In the III
Chapter of Shreemad Bhagwat Geeta there is a line "
अन्नात
भूतानि जायन्ते -
Annant Bhootani Jaayante " which means "the human
being is made from food". This statement becomes true,
everything in your body was once the food you ate. Pure food gives
us health, happiness, efficiency and longevity. Pure food is what it
is represented to be; it should be wholesome and do all the good it
should do and be free from anything that does any harm or might
impair its goodness. The nature, quantity and quality of food pay a
vital role in the maintenance of health of individuals.
Preparation
and processing of food products may modify their nutritional
value and use of food additives may introduce direct or
indirect toxicity, but the real hazards to health are caused by food
adulteration.