01:00 PM
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Books – Islam Lutfi:
During the past few days, some doctors have warned of the dangers of some types of cheese in the market, because they contain vegetable oils that affect human health, especially children, and may lead to heart disease. Among these types was mozzarella cheese modified with vegetable oils, which was issued by the National Food Safety Authority. issued a statement today, Sunday, to clarify matters regarding what was recently raised on social media regarding it, and to prevent consumer misleading.
The authority’s statement agrees with the decision of the Chairman of its Board of Directors No. 19 of 2022, which included the binding rule for the maximum limits for trans fatty acids in food containing vegetable oils or fats within the composition in accordance with European legislation, which prohibits the circulation or use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and fats in manufacturing. food.
It also decided to set maximum limits for trans fatty acids in food, so that they do not exceed 2 grams per 100 grams of the content of vegetable oils and fats in food intended for direct consumption.
In order to prevent misleading the consumer with some of the labels written on the types of cheese that are contrary to the nature of their manufacture, and for the manufacturer not to fall into the prohibition of commercial fraud, and thus legal accountability, I demanded the use of the words “analog, similar, or similar” on dairy products containing vegetable oils, as a distinction For dairy products whose natural fat has been partially or completely replaced with vegetable oils, and according to what the National Food Safety Authority has agreed with the members of the Technical Committee for Dairy and Dairy Products formed by the various concerned authorities in the General Authority for Standardization and Quality, and in accordance with international legislation regulating product naming.
She clarified that, therefore, the Egyptian Standard Specification No. 8445 of 2021 related to “anlog, similar, similar” mozzarella cheese was issued, which was officially approved by the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Standardization and Quality and the Minister of Trade and Industry.
And it warned against violating the binding regulations of the Food Safety Authority and the standard specifications and its provisions issued by the General Authority for Standardization and Quality, as it is considered commercial fraud and will be held accountable for that by law.
The authority’s advice is consistent with scientific studies that have proven that the basis for manufacturing dairy products is the use of milk fat. Dairy products may be manufactured that are low or free of milk fat, whether by reducing or removing them in whole or in part. The replacement of butterfat with approved vegetable oils and fats is for economic reasons. Or industrial, health or nutritional, vegetable oils or fats that enter the food industry are subject to requirements and standards that ensure the safety of the food product.
