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Health Now cholera rocks haiti

The study

OXYTETRACYCLINE Belonging to the common antibiotic class of Tetracyclines, this antibiotic is used by beekeepers against bacterial foul brood diseases. The BIS recommends it for the treatment of European foul brood disease.

The results

Multiple antibiotics in high amounts were found in 11 out of the 12 samples. All 11 samples failed the antibiotics standards set by the Indian government’s Export Inspection Council (EIC) for exported honey. The two imported honey samples were also highly contaminated with antibiotics. Both would have failed their own domestic standards. The only sample in which no antibiotic residues were detected was Hitkari Honey of Hitkari Pharmacy, Delhi. This is a small company involved in the seasonal honey business.

Creating indomitable superbugs

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. If even at a large dose, the antibiotic is not effective in treating an infection, then the microorganism that is responsible for the infection is declared resistant to that antibiotic.

Natural and pure?

The one kg jar of honey on Sangeeta Das’s kitchen shelf has many uses. Every morning she takes out a small quantity and puts it on the breakfast table. Her husband, Indranil, a media executive, likes a little bit of honey on his toast and the couple’s three-year-old son has spoonfuls. In the evenings, Sangeeta stirs a spoonful of honey into a glass of lukewarm water mixed with lemon juice and drinks it for weight control. She also uses honey in combination with basil (tulsi) and ginger juice as cough remedy. Sangeeta’s fondness for honey holds true for most Indians who regard it as a health food that can rejuvenate the elderly and boost immunity of infants.

GM food debate hots up again

Some scientists are planning to write to the Indian government, saying you never carried out any independent study and had no access to Bt gene of maize or brinjal. What do you have to say? I was a referee to review the raw data of Mahyco (promoter of Bt brinjal) on health risks of the food crop.    

Cotton’s Bt in soy

A letter to Jairam Ramesh from an official of a European certifying agency brings to light the GM contamination of Indian soy lecithin, a soy derivative. “The Indian soy derivative is likely to have been contaminated with GM cotton. This was tested in our lab since certain GM cotton varieties are unique to and unapproved outside India,” said Richard Werran, managing director, Cert ID Europe Ltd.

Billed to confuse

If the nationwide furore over Bt brinjal was driven by the fear of unsafe food being pushed down the throat, the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (brai) bill goes a step further to silence all opposition. The bill will bring about changes in regulating the research, transport, import, manufacture and use of genetically modified (GM) products in the country.    

Pesticides linked to neuro-disorder

Here is a reason why people should eat organically grown food. A study in the US has linked attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) in children to pesticide residues in commercially grown fruits and vegetables they consume. Till now the disorder was either labelled as a hereditary disease or linked to exposure to tobacco and alcohol before birth.

Coca-Cola asked to pay Rs 216 crore

Coca-cola has been asked to pay Rs 216.26 crore against damages caused by its cola bottling plant at Plachimada. On March 22, a high powered committee of the Kerala government recomended the cola giant should compensate people for polluting their water resources.