How Aware Are We of the Dangers in Food?

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recently announced two separate lists. The names of companies, brands and products were published under the headings of “foods that may endanger health” and “imitation and adulterated foods”. However, it is seen that there is no significant decrease in the sales graphs of the disclosed products. Experts say that consumers should definitely examine these lists before shopping. So what should be considered when reading the lists?

Altınbaş University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department Faculty Member, Food Engineer Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün said, “Non-conformities in food have not been shared with the public since 2022. The fact that the lists have started to be shared again and that they will be shared instantly is positive for public health. However, citizens should also be aware of the risks, follow them closely and not buy these products.”

The state inspects and discloses. But these products are still being sold. So what should consumers do?

The list of products harmful to health was disclosed via(https://guvenilirgida.tarimorman.gov.tr/gkd). Prof. Dr. Faculty Member Merve Yavuz Düzgün explained what needs to be done to raise consumer awareness and increase food literacy. Pointing out that there has been a great information pollution in the media about food for many years, Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün said, “For example, food additives with code E; While the Joint Committee of Experts Working on Food Additives (JECFA) within the United Nations has determined the limits of use by the Joint Committee of Experts Working on Food Additives (JECFA) and when used within these limits, they are compounds that do not cause any health problems and provide quality and safety in foods, the attention of the consumer was drawn to food additives with code E. However, the real problems in our foods are nonconformities such as those in the disclosure lists, high pesticide levels, the presence of mycotoxins (mold toxins) and the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. Providing consumers with clear and enlightening information on these issues is important for public health.” Prof. Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün also suggested that before the start of production in small enterprises, and especially for pesticide and mycotoxin problems, inspections in the field should be expanded.

The implementation of the action plan on food literacy covering the period 2022-2028 in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and FAO (World Food and Agriculture Organization) is a positive step towards making the younger generation more conscious consumers. According to Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün, as stated in this action plan, activities in the media and social networks have a big share in this regard. “Consumers should check the lists published by the ministry when choosing foods. They should use the same website to query the “Supplementary Food Approval”(https://ggbs.tarim.gov.tr/cis/servlet/StartCISPage?PAGEURL=/FSIS/ggbs.takviyeGidaSorgu.html&POPUPTITLE=AnaMenu) for suspected supplements. I also recommend that suspicious businesses(https://guvenilirgida.tarimorman.gov.tr/isletme/QRKodOlustur) also question their records.”

What has been detected, what are the harms?

Prof. Dr. Faculty Member Merve Yavuz Düzgün explained what harmful substances were detected in the products and their effects on human health:

On the list of foods that endanger health,

• Pharmaceutical active ingredients were detected in some herbal pastes, ginseng confectionery or beverages, energy drinks, slimming teas, collagen-containing supplements.
• Dyes not permitted for use in food were detected in spices such as sumac, red pepper flakes, sweet pepper and vegetable oils.
• Natamycin was detected in dairy products.
• One-hoofed meat or pork was detected in meat and meat products.
• In alcoholic beverages, alcohol not permitted for use in food or low alcohol by volume were detected.

Prof. Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün underlined that in the list of imitation and adulteration, there were nonconformities such as the detection of foreign substances in various spice products, the detection of poultry meat or offal in red meat products, the mixing of seed oils in olive oils, the detection of sunflower seeds in baklava, the detection of food coloring in tomato paste and tea, the detection of vegetable oil in butter, the detection of starch or vegetable oil in melting cheeses or cheddar.

“Sildenafil added to dietary supplements can trigger visual impairment and Sibutramine added to slimming teas can trigger cardiovascular disorders”

Prof. Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün emphasized that drug active ingredients such as Sibutramine, which is added to drinks claiming to have a slimming effect to create the specified effect, and Sildenafil or Tadalafil, which are added to supplements (pastes) put on the market with the effect of increasing sexual power, have serious side effects. Düzgün said, “Sildenafil is actually a safe drug with a daily upper limit (100 µg), when used under doctor's supervision and within these limits. However, its reported serious side effects can be listed as vision loss, hearing loss, antihypertensive effect, risk of death when taken with nitrates.” “Sibutramine, on the other hand, has serious side effects such as elevated blood pressure and heart rate, kidney damage, liver damage and death.” He warned that consumers turning to these herbal products with the idea that they are healthy and uncontrolled exposure to these active ingredients poses significant health risks.

“Food dyes used inappropriately in spices carry congenital anomaly and carcinogenic risk”

Another non-compliance is about dyes. Prof. Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün said that according to the Turkish Food Codex Regulation, the use of food coloring in spices and vegetable oils is not allowed. She reminded that with these dyes, the red or orange color of low-quality red peppers or vegetable oils is strengthened and the consumer is deceived. Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün from Altınbaş University said, “It was previously reported that dyes named Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan para red, Sudan IV were found in spice products. Vegetable oils can also be adulterated with this group of dyes. These dyes are azo dyes in the synthetic dye group. Some azo dyes can be used in foods in compliance with the limits. However, the use of these dyes is prohibited for all foods. These dyes are compounds that have genotoxic, carcinogenic effects on the human body and cause congenital anomalies.”

Beware of meat and dairy products!

Dr. Düzgün also drew attention to the probes in the most consumed meat and dairy products. Natamycin, which appears to be used in dairy products, is a food additive that prevents mold and yeast growth in foods. According to Düzgün, this substance is included in the annexes of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation with the code E235 and surface application is allowed in dried cured sausages and shelled cheese, with detailed usage limits. Düzgün, however, emphasized that its use is also prohibited in products such as yogurt and soft cheese and said, “Taking natamycin at levels higher than 0.3 mg/kg body weight per day can cause allergic and digestive system disorders.”

As for the nonconformities in meat products, Düzgün reminded that animals such as horses, donkeys and pigs are called single-hoofed animals and stated that it was seen again with the announced list that such meat can be mixed into meat products to reduce the cost. He noted that since these animals are not raised and inspected for food consumption in our country, they can pose a risk to human health.

“Methyl alcohol exposure leads to vision loss and central nervous system suppression”

Düzgün said that the determination of alcohol, which is not allowed to be used in food, is also included in the list, especially in alcoholic beverages in eating and drinking places. He stated that according to the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Alcoholic Beverages, methyl alcohol limits are set for different drinks. She reminded that exposure to high levels of methyl alcohol causes problems such as metabolic acidosis, vision loss, central nervous system suppression and carries a risk of death. Dr. Merve Yavuz Düzgün emphasized that adding the product groups containing pesticides (pesticides), mold toxins and pathogenic microorganisms detected above the limit values to the lists and sharing the date of detection of non-compliances since 2022 would better enlighten the consumer.