Few people are aware of the amount of sugar soft drinks contain. The students of the Department of Studies in Food Science and Nutrition, Mysore University, recently organised a food safety and consumer awareness programme where they displayed a can of soft drink and hung a plastic pouch containing the amount of sugar in it.
The students also told the visitors about the ill effects of consuming products with high glycemic index (which indicates the effect on blood glucose). “While drinking, most people don’t realise that so much of sugar is getting into their system. We just wanted to try and create awareness about this,” said Prof. Asna Urooj, chairperson of the department.
The visitors were also made aware of the fact that processed fruit drinks largely contain sugar water instead of actual fruit pulp. “Homemade fruit juices are better as one can control the amount of sugar,” she said.
According to a release, the students also spread awareness on the need to select food based on nutritive attributes such as glycemic index, salts, fats and oils. Various theme-based topics, such as hidden facts about chocolates, plastic packaging and food handling, were displayed in posters at the programme.
The programme was organised in association with Giggles of Livez, a nutrition consultancy firm. It was inaugurated by B.G. Sheshagiri, chief analyst, Divisional Food Laboratory, Mysuru.
