Dear comrades of Hotel Alamo, in our post today we want to highlight the importance of food fraud. It is very important to know the food we consume well and we want to show you some advice that will serve you very much in your vision as consumers of food. If you are interested, we are open 24 hours to assist you and offer our best offers, as well as to advise you on the best places of leisure and restoration. Call us without obligation!!
That of tuna adulterated with additives to give it the appearance of fresh caught and that of eggs contaminated with fipronil, a “moderately dangerous” insecticide according to WHO, have been the last food crises in Europe, but not the only ones. How do these infractions happen? Ariane Vettorazzi, professor of the Toxicology Unit of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition of the University of Navarra explains that for two reasons: the first are human errors; the second, fraud. Some of them may pose serious health problems, such as the adulteration of milk and melanin that occurred in China in 2008 and caused kidney problems. The consequences of consumption of adulterated tuna have not been serious, but has already caused histamine intoxication in 154 people.
- Question of eggs: According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, in our country each person consumes 137 eggs per year. Most are chickens kept in cages. The studies say that only 30% of consumers read and know the meaning of the traceability code engraved on the shell. But to verify the origin of the egg is easier than that: “In general, we do not know that the mode of production, that is to say, what the code indicates, must be marked in the container with all its letters: eggs of hens in cages , in soil, camperas or ecological “, informs Maria del Mar Fernández Poza, president of the Spanish Institute of Studies of the Egg. However, “there is no difference regarding food security, so choosing one type or another depends on other considerations, such as animal welfare,” adds Beatriz Robles, expert in Food Technology. Tip: Eggs retain their freshness for 28 days, so it is recommended to check the expiration date. We march as “extra fresh” or “extra quality” are only authorized for posts less than nine days ago.
- A bitter story about honey. Honey is antibacterial and antiseptic, rich in antioxidants, it helps us sleep … about 30 grams of pure honey contains 20 different vitamins, 18 kinds of amino acids and 16 minerals. For all that, we feel that we are making a great gesture for our health when we sweeten it. The problem is that, for all the benefits of that list to remain intact, the honey has to be pure (without added ingredients). And that is increasingly rare on the shelves of the supermarket. The latest official figures on fraud honey in the European Union are set out in a technical report by the European Commission in 2016, which found that 14% of the honey samples analyzed were adulterated with sugar. Tip: Discard any that do not indicate their origin. Better if it is from a local producer or has a designation of origin. Check that the list of ingredients only indicates one: honey. Unprocessed honey tends to be opaque and very dense. The purest have natural impurities (pollen, wax …) and solidify in crystals.
- The mystery of minced meat. The appearance in 2013 of veal and beef burgers in which there was horse meat (some with traces of phenylbutazone, an anti-inflammatory) multiplied the studies on what is actually in the trays of minced meat. The last one, carried out by the OCU in June, has shown that, although there is improvement, there are many differences between input products because most are not 100% minced meat. Many are sold as “meat prepared” or burger meat. Tip: “Without a doubt, the best thing to avoid fraud is to buy the whole piece and ask the butcher to chop it down,” recommends Beatriz Robles. If you choose derivatives (sausages, hamburgers …), you have to read the label. Choose 100% meat and also have a maximum fat content of 20% and the collagen / protein ratio of 15%.
- York ham that sometimes is not ham. OCU included it in their list of foods that are not what they seem. “The problem is that, under names that seem very similar (cooked ham, ham ham, pork lean meat …), there are processed products of very different qualities that consumers do not distinguish. We talked about that in some cases they have 85% -95% of pork (cooked ham) and, in others, like lean meat, may not reach 40%, explains Beatriz Robles, expert in Science and Technology of the Food and Food Safety consultant. And the rest what is it? For a varied cocktail of starches, starches, sugars, salt, gellifers … and other additives that we pay for ham and that although they are authorized, their consumption in excess is not beneficial. Tip: “The first thing is to make sure that we are actually buying ham, which comes from the whole boneless piece, treated with brine and heat, and not another product like ham (which may contain starch) or lean (obtained from the chopped pieces to get a fine paste), “recommends Beatriz Robles. You can tell by reading the labeling or by asking the clerk. Be wary of those with a uniform presence: you should see the muscle fibers and present streaks of fat and different shades of color. It is wise to distrust claims as “extra juicy”, it only contains more water.
We hope you like our post dedicated to food fraud and follow the advice we have offered to try to fight against it and be cheated as consumers. And for any questions or queries regarding reservations, do not hesitate to contact the Hotel Alamo!!
