Pride of Pakistan
| Ikram Sehgal
* To
supplement Independence Day celebrations, the Daily Times will highlight, all
of August, the individuals who continue to make Pakistan proud. Our 10th
interview is with the highly successful businessman Ikram Sehgal
I was in the army at first. When I got out, I
ventured into flying. I had 2,000 hours of flying to my credit. I started working
towards acquiring a commercial pilot license. Later, I worked for a couple of
years as a flying instructor and then at an aviation firm in Karachi. I
discovered that merit is a disqualifier. There is a lot of prejudice present
and you can never go up on merit. I decided to never work for the government
again. So with Rs 11,000 only, I founded Pathfinders Group Pakistan. I began
with trading at first, then chemicals, jute goods, newsprint, rice, jute bags
and cotton. So basically, in four to five years, I became an expert in counter
trade. I worked in barter and counter trade. In 1983, I ventured in arms
purchases for five to six years. I got the arms and equipment which are still
used in Pakistan army. The principles that I wanted to work with couldn’t work
at that time. Even my friends in uniform were not getting to abide by those
rules. I had to give up arms purchases. I gave up working with the government
altogether. I decided to never work with them. From 1987 to 2020, I did only
two contracts with the government. I sold two sugar mills to be sold to
Bangladesh, something which had never been done in the history of the country.
I never got properly paid for it. I brought about a television licence free of
cost in the country in 1999, the case for which is still subjudiced in court. I
never got a penny for it. Once again, I decided to never ever work with the
government again. I introduced a private security service in the country called
Security & Management Services which became a country wide hit and did very
well. Masha Allah today, it is the largest private security company. Seven
years ago, I went into the Information Technology (IT) business. I had ventured
in the IT business in 1983 as well but I had given it up. So once again, I went
into it in 2013. Tomorrow, you’ll be seeing an advertisement in the papers
about something which is very close to my heart and is locally developed. It
allows 80 percent of adults to open bank accounts on telephone. Going back on
my personal affairs, I started writing in 1987. I used to write occasionally at
first when Arif Nizami requested me to write for The Nation. I wrote a series
of articles on counter trade. He told me my articles were being very well
received. Then it came an addiction to me. I released many books from 2010 to
2020. I’m a member of the World Economic Forum and one of the few Pakistani
members. From 2003 onwards, I started a Pakistani breakfast service there which
eminent personalities like Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf
Raza Gillani, Imran Khan and Bilawal Bhutto enjoyed and became regulars. Today,
I have about 12,000 people working for me. I started from very humble
beginnings. I don’t keep money for myself, rather I invest all of it in my
business. I’m very proud of what I do for my firm and my people.
Pathfinder
Group Pakistan employs several thousand people across Pakistan. In what ways do
you think the pandemic has affected your business?
Out of 12,000 employees, I had to lay off
1,500. All my employees got together one day and told me that they were willing
to forgo their upcoming increment in these trying times. It was only when the
State Bank of Pakistan introduced this payroll scheme that helped me retain all
my employees.
You have
over 40 years of business experience. People say the pandemic is the worst to
have affected businesses. What in your view are some of the other factors that
can adversely affect a business?
The government is the worst paymaster, one of
the reasons that I had decided not to work with them. They delay everything.
The phone banking service was something that is supposed to come out on August
14. We could’ve done this two years ago. This way, 12 million people could’ve
have accessed this service and benefited from it. The bureaucracy put every hurdle
possible but then you have good bureaucrats too who helped us.
What are
you currently working on?
I’m working on a number of IT projects for
foreign nationals and then one welfare programme too.
You have authored several books as well. Please
tell us a little about that.
Several of my books came out which are a
collection of my articles from 1987 to 2010. From the years 2010 to 2020, five
more books by me came out printed the Oxford University Press (OUP). I’m the
first Pakistani prisoner of war to escape from India. I wrote a book on this
called Escape from Oblivion printed by OUP. Another book of mine came out which
I had co-authored titled Blood Dividing Over Two Shades of Green.
You have
served on the boards of many firms including Bank Alfalah as well. How
different and fulfilling is your current work as opposed to a challenging
profession like banking?
I was never a banker. I was just on the board.
When I went as a director, I never knew about banking. Whatever I learnt about
it, I learnt on the way.
You have
served as the chairman of K-Electric. Today, many people don’t quit their line
of work owing to attachment and long-term association. Has there ever been a
time that you found it difficult to leave a company owing to attachment and
association?
I was elected as additional director and then
chairman of K-Electric. They didn’t require for me to do day to day work. It
was a very challenging work because K-Electric already has many problems. After
a few months, I discovered that its shareholders did not really care about the
national interest of K-Electric. There was a time when a 700 to 900 megawatt
plant was required. Instead of putting Rs 1.2 billion in for the plant, I
advised them to invest in the distribution system. The cost would be 1/10th as
well. Not a penny was invested by the shareholders. After 10 months, I decided
to leave. Within seven months of my quitting, they really went downhill from
there.
‘You leave a place for two things;
if it’s not benefiting you and second, you think you cannot do any good there.
Then you can’t stay there like a dummy’
How
important is it for a person’s growth to be able to say goodbye to a place if
it’s no longer benefiting him?
You leave a place for two things; if it’s not
benefiting you and second, you think you cannot do any a good there. Then you
can’t stay there like a dummy.
Is there
a quota of men and women you keep in your organisation for recruitment?
No. I take people on their performance and
loyalty. Alhamdulilah, some of my employees have been serving here for as long
as 20 years, especially the women. There are a total of 300 students studying
on my company scholarships. If anyone dies in my company, his widow gets his
full salary for two years.
What
advice would you give to an 18-year-old self?
Every challenge is an opportunity. Never
forsake your principles. Sometime you have to adjust them but don’t break them
completely. There should be a time that you can look back and say that every
penny that you’ve earned is legitimate.
What is
your vision for Pakistan and what does it mean to be Pakistani for you?
In the coming years, we will be the biggest and
most successful nations in the world. Looking after employees is very
important. You need to invest in your people and have to treat your employees
like family. The strength of the institution comes first. Welfare and
contentment of the people comes second. Welfare and contentment of your own
self comes last. Under our Elena Care programme, any member of the organisation
can go to any hospital and get free hospitalisation.
We at Daily Times consider you one of our
national heroes. Who are some of yours? Lieutenant General Ali Kuli Khan
Khattak. I have never seen him do anything wrong in my life. He’s an
outstanding man. Colonel SG Mehdi, Sartaj Aziz, Brigadier Muhammad Taj and
Lieutenant General Imtiazullah Warraich are also my heroes.
Achievements
MULTI-TALENTED
MAN
Ikram Sehgal is a Pakistani defense analyst and
security expert. He is a retired Pakistan Army officer. He is a licensed pilot,
a businessman and a writer.
PRISONER
OF WAR
Ikram Sehgal became a prisoner of war in April
1971, while serving in the former East Pakistan and was sent to the Panagarh
POW Camp in India. In July 1971, Sehgal escaped from the prison. He became the
first Pakistani Prisoner of War to escape from an Indian POW camp.
A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN
Sehgal set up a business in 1977, specialising
in trading and counter trade. He is currently Chairman, Pathfinder Group
Pakistan, which includes two of the country’s largest private security
companies.
INTERNATIONAL
ICON
Sehgal is also involved in national and
international organisations. He is a Member of the World Economic Forum;
International Organization for Migration; Director, East West Institute, a
US-based think-tank; and Member, WEF Global Agenda Council for
counter-terrorism.
AN
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER AND ANALYST
Sehgal is a regular contributor of articles in
newspapers that include The News, The Nation and the Urdu daily Jang. He
appears regularly on current affairs programs on television as a defense and
security analyst. He has written many books, some of which are Escape from
Oblivion and Blood Dividing Over Two Shades of Green.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/653263/pride-of-pakistan-ikram-sehgal/
Modern Technology
and Regulatory Framework Are Must For Agri Development, CEO Bayer Pakistan
0 agri, Bayer, CEO, development, Framework, Modern, Pakistan, regulatory, Technology
Pakistan
will have to take advantage of the modern technology to make the most of its
agriculture sector, which equally requires its regulatory framework to catch up
with these upgrades so they can be exploited efficiently.
It was stated by Dr Imran Ahmad Khan, CEO & Managing Director,
Bayer Pakistan (Pvt) Limited, in an exclusive talk with The News.
Here are some of his thought-provoking insights on Pakistan’s
healthcare and food security risks.
Q: Why is Bayer called a life science company?
A: At Bayer, we address some of the world’s most pressing
challenges. Our population is constantly growing, while climate change and
resource scarcity pose a serious risk to food security. People need quality
medicines and nutritious food in sufficient quantities to live a better life.
Through our portfolio of science-based solutions for healthcare and agriculture,
we work towards addressing these universal challenges and making our vision –
Health for All, Hunger for None – a reality.
Q: What food and health security challenges are facing Pakistan
currently?
A: There are tremendous challenges in both areas. Pakistan’s
population, world’s sixth-largest, is projected to expand by nearly 100 million
people by 2050 (UN World Population Prospects 2019). We need to feed more
people than ever before in our history; even before the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic, an estimated 21 million Pakistanis were facing acute food insecurity.
But simultaneously, we are facing extreme climate change-related challenges,
scarcity of resources including water, and productivity losses. These factors
affect the productivity of major crops such as wheat, rice and maize.
The young population of Pakistan is growing exponentially, and
needs more in terms of both adequate nutrition and healthcare. Food insecurity
puts people at great risk of malnutrition, which can lead to lifelong health
conditions.
Q: What does Bayer offer to counter the prevailing challenges in
healthcare and food security?
A: Bayer’s portfolio is uniquely structured to offer solutions for
both healthcare and nutrition. In healthcare, we provide high-quality
pharmaceuticals for many therapeutic categories – in Pakistan these include
cardiology/thrombosis, women’s healthcare, pulmonology, oncology,
anti-infectives, ophthalmology, and radiology. We also have a Consumer Health
portfolio that includes nutritional, dermatology, and digestive health
products. For the agriculture sector, our Crop Science product portfolio
focuses on high-yielding seeds for maize as well as a portfolio of vegetable
seeds. We also offer innovative crop protection solutions, including
herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, and micronutrient products.
Q: What is the role of research-based drugs in healthcare
security?
A: The field of medicine is constantly advancing; as diseases
continue to evolve, so must available treatments. Research-based drugs offer
patients the newest and most effective therapies to combat existing conditions.
They are vital to raising the bar on prevailing standards of treatment, and
therefore very important to healthcare security overall.
Q: How can Pakistan leverage agritech to combat food security
challenges?
A: Agritech can be leveraged to combat many of the growing
challenges to food security and improve the sustainability of the agriculture
industry. Farmers can better utilize limited amounts of arable land and grow
more with less by planting high-yielding crops made possible through advanced
breeding techniques. A good example of this is short stature corn, a variety of
corn that is resilient to challenging weather conditions, and also allows for
greater planting density. If enabled by policy and regulatory framework,
farmers can also utilise digital insights and precision agriculture for
improved agronomy and efficient water usage. For example, harvest losses can be
decreased if farmers have access to information about rapidly changing climate
conditions, and are empowered to make timely decisions to protect their crops.
Q: How does Pakistan’s regulatory framework structure affect
introduction of research based, innovative products, and technologies?
A: For innovation to flourish, the prevailing regulatory framework
needs to provide adequate protection and support, particularly in the area of
intellectual property (IP) protection. This is equally applicable to the
pharmaceutical and agriculture sectors.
Technological advancement is underpinned by years of scientific
research and investment. Therefore, companies seek out markets that provide
adequate protection against theft of their proprietary knowledge. However, in
Pakistan, despite the existence of requisite laws against intellectual property
infringement, enforcement remains weak.
In agriculture, this is evident in the fact that despite being the
fourth-largest market for cottonseed, none of the leading cottonseed technology
(Bt cotton) providers are willing to enter the market. In the pharmaceutical
sector, intellectual property violations have resulted in the widespread
production, and distribution of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs.
Q: In terms of regulatory environment, what other improvements can
contribute to create a competitive and growing pharmaceutical industry?
A: Contract manufacturing could enable the transfer of technology,
expand the local industry, and boost exports. However we need more supportive
policies for this to happen. Currently, to fulfill the requirements for
contract manufacturing, companies must have a functional manufacturing facility
of their own (unlike other countries, such as India). This requirement means
that Pakistan will lag in pharmaceutical exports, with local plants remaining
underutilised. There are concerns that contract manufacturing would discourage
MNCs (multinational companies) from operating in Pakistan. However, the reality
is that, due to the strict quality standards of MNCs, contract manufacturing
would promote technology transfer by bringing the local industry at par with
global technology, processes and quality controls. There is an urgent need to
revisit the laws and regulations pertaining to contract manufacturing in order
to unlock the potential of the pharmaceutical industry.
Q: What has the impact of COVID on healthcare and agriculture
been?
A: As with all industries, the impact of COVID on
both has been significant. The government-mandated lockdown at the peak of the
pandemic along with travel restrictions, both local and global, put pressure on
supply chains. In the agriculture supply chain, the movement of key inputs such
as seed, fertilisers and crop protection products was impacted. Similarly,
restrictions on movement of people also created a shortage of labour at
critical planting and harvest stages across the country. However, the federal
and provincial governments were quick to issue necessary exemptions for the
relief of farmers. But, with the pandemic drawing out longer, demand
compression experienced by certain food commodities is now beginning to drive
down agriculture commodity
prices; essentially eroding farmer profitability.
In the pharmaceutical industry, similar disruption was faced by
many in the procurement of key raw materials such as API (Active Product
Ingredient) which is not manufactured in the country and must be imported,
often from India or China. Local movement restrictions also affected supply to
distributors and retailers.
Q: What agri technologies does Bayer plan to introduce into
Pakistan and where does the country stand in terms of adoption of modern
technology?
A: Globally, Bayer has multiple technology platforms
that provide tailored solutions to farmers, including advanced breeding
technology, biotechnology, crop protection chemistries and digital/precision
farming tools. In Pakistan, Bayer is already marketing elite maize hybrid seed
genetics, and a crop protection portfolio enabling improved pest and weed
control. Regarding our pipeline, we have completed all field trial and
regulatory requirements for our biotech maize hybrids, which allow protection
against insect attack and improved weed control. These hybrids have been shown
to exhibit 10–45 percent higher yields than conventional varieties, and could
save farmers up to 70 percent on crop protection costs. Bayer has also
partnered with XAG, a leading drone manufacturer, in efforts towards
introducing agriculture drone technology in the country. Drones allow more precise,
efficient and safe application of pesticides, enable direct seeding in select
crops and provide valuable data insights to aid key farming decisions.
Unfortunately, Pakistan has been unable to fully capitalise on the modern
technologies that are fueling growth in agriculture productivity globally.
Drone technology is a prime example; while the world is fast embracing this
innovative tool, our local regulatory framework has not evolved sufficiently to
utilise it. In order to realize our true potential in agriculture, we need to
embrace and adopt a wide array of modern technologies available to farmers
around the world.
The article is originally published by the news.
Pakistan, China to strengthen cooperation in
agricultural sector: Gu Wenliang
INP
Pakistan needed to strengthen commercial
promotion and marketing for its agricultural products to enhance exports to
China.
This was stated by Gu Wenliang, the Agriculture
Commissioner, Embassy of China to Pakistan at a webinar held by the Vehari
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.
He said agriculture is one of the key
cooperation industries under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC).
According to Gu, both of the Chinese and
Pakistani governments are committed to strengthening agricultural industry
cooperation and encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan and
set up joint venture with potential local partners.
The agricultural industry cooperation will not
only increase Pakistan’s yields of crops and keep its food security, but also
improve its agricultural products exports to China and other countries and
regions.
Gu pointed out that there is great potential
for China-Pak agricultural cooperation in the four areas.
Israel blocks
Gaza fuel supply
Firstly, the average yield of wheat is only 3
tons per hectare in Pakistan, which can be improved substantially by taking the
high-yield, anti-drought variety with resistance to insects and pests.
As for rice cultivation, China’s hybrid rice
technology is recommended. The Gmo cotton is also proper to be applied in
Pakistan.
For sugar cane and potato, the virus free
tissue culture sapling could be a good choice.
Second, China has many technologies suitable
for crops in Pakistan, including compound planting, smart agriculture,
water-saving irrigation and greenhouse.
Recently, two Pakistani students from China’s
Sichuan Agricultural University, use the maize-soybean strip intercropping
technology in Punjab, which has achieved satisfactory results by now.
The greenhouse planting can also promote the
development of vegetables, edible fungus and flowers in Pakistan.
Thirdly, agricultural machinery and
agricultural materials. China’s fertilizer and pesticide industries are
developed. Now green pesticides and organic fertilizers are being promoted to
reduce pollution from agricultural non-point source.
Pakistan, China
to strengthen cooperation in agricultural sector: Gu Wenliang
In terms of agricultural machinery, with the 5G
and other technologies, smart agricultural machines and implements have been
playing an important role in crops’ sowing, harvesting and plant protection in
China.
These machines are also suitable for use in Pakistan.
Fourthly, agricultural product processing. Pakistan produces a great deal of
high-quality fruits and vegetables every year. Due to their short storage
period, a lot of them go rotten and cause a great waste.
To solve this problem, they could either be
kept by cold chain storage or processed into high value-added products by food
processing technology.
On the other hand, enterprises are welcomed to
invest in Pakistan to set up meat processing factories and then exports
processed meat to China and Middle East countries.
In addition, Gu also gives some suggestions for
China-Pak agricultural cooperation.
Both of the two governments should roll out
favorable policies in finance and tax to encourage enterprises’ investment and
cooperation in agriculture sector.
The second is to strengthen the intellectual
property protection for varieties and agriculture-related technologies.
Another one is for China and Pakistan to
promote agriculture products trade. To date, China and Pakistan have signed
quarantine risk protocols for rice, citrus and mango. The two sides need to
accelerate the signing of protocols for onions, potatoes and cherries.
The last one is for Pakistan to make good use
of e-commerce, and strengthen commercial promotions and marketing to make more
Chinese know more about its high-quality agriculture products, he added.
Illegal rice mills, stone-crushing
plants sealed in Balochistan
The Newspaper's Staff
CorrespondentUpdated 13 Aug 2020
QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Wednesday sealed
all illegally-run rice mills, stone-crushing plants and marble factories across
the province for causing environmental hazard.
According to Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, 100
rice mills and 41 stone-crushing plants had been shut down in different towns
and cities of the province.
In a Twitter message, the chief minister said that the
government had withdrawn NOCs (no objection certificates) of 16 crushing plants
and five marble factories in Khuzdar. He further said that 21 illegal
stone-crushing plants had been sealed in Quetta, nine in Turbat and six in
Pishin.
“One-hundred rice mills, which were found being run
illegally, have also been sealed,” the chief minister added. He said fines had
also been imposed on BTS Towers.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020
Thursday, Aug 13th 2020 5PM 40°C 8PM 33°C
Microplastics have been discovered inside
every single sample of seafood bought at a market as part of a scientific
study.
Researchers cut open oysters, prawns, crabs,
squids and sardines and studied them for any sign of microplastics.
Sardines were found to be the worst affected
and had ingested the largest amount of plastic, up to 30mg per serving - the
same weight as a grain of rice.
Microplastics are tiny particles which are
less than five millimetres (0.2 inches) in length.
The health impact of humans ingesting these
particles remains a concerning mystery.
Scroll down for video
Researchers from the universities of
Queensland and Exeter cut open oysters, prawns, crabs, squids and sardines
purchased at an Australian market and studied them for any sign of
microplastics
The study was
led by the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland and has been
published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Academics report plastic levels of 0.04
milligrams (mg) per gram of tissue in squid, 0.07mg in prawns, 0.1mg in
oysters, 0.3mg in crabs and 2.9mg in sardines.
'Considering an average serving, a seafood
eater could be exposed to approximately 0.7mg of plastic when ingesting an
average serving of oysters or squid, and up to 30mg of plastic when eating
sardines, respectively,' said lead author Francisca Ribeiro, a PhD student who
led the research.
'For comparison, 30mg is the average weight
of a grain of rice. Our findings show that the amount of plastics present
varies greatly among species, and differs between individuals of the same
species.
'From the seafood species tested, sardines
had the highest plastic content, which was a surprising result.'
Sardines were found to be the worst affected
of the animals tested and ingested the largest amount of plastic, up to 30mg
per serving - the same weight as a grain of rice. Microplastics are tiny
particles which are less than five millimet https://urdu.arynews.tv/computer-use-for-eyes/res (0.2 inches) long
Microplastics
contaminate fruit and veg, study finds
Microplastics have been discovered in
apples, carrots, pears, broccoli and lettuce, studies have revealed.
Root vegetables including radishes, turnips
and parsnips could also be contaminated with the man-made waste, prompting
fears over the health impact.
The tiny pollutants are thought to have
been sucked into plants roots with water, and then travelled up the stem into
the leaves and, where possible, fruits.
Scientists have argued for decades that this
was 'impossible', claiming they were 'too large' to fit through the pores in
the roots.
Microplastics have previously been
identified in meats including chicken, canned fish and shellfish.
The researchers wanted to see if and how
plastic was affecting a wide range of ocean-dwelling creatures so
bought five wild blue crabs, ten oysters, ten farmed tiger prawns, ten
wild squid and ten wild sardines.
While they were still raw and fresh, the
animals were analysed for five different types of known plastic pollution,: polystyrene,
polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and poly(methyl methacrylate).
All of these polymers are commonly used in
plastic packaging and textiles and previous studies have found they make up a
lot of marine litter.
Researchers used chemicals to dissolve any
plastics in the tissues of the samples and the liquid produced was then put
into a machine to determine what type of plastic it was.
'We found polyvinyl chloride – a widely used
synthetic plastic polymer – in all samples we tested, but the most common
plastic in use today – polyethylene – was the highest concentrate we found,' Ms
Ribeiro said.
'Another interesting aspect was the diversity
of microplastic types found among species, with polyethylene predominant in
fish and polyvinyl chloride, the only plastic detected in oysters.'
Microplastics are being increasingly found
around the world, with evidence of them now seen at the bottom of the deepest
ocean as well as in the Alps and Antarctica.
Researchers found the microplastic polyvinyl
chloride in every single specimen, and this was the only microplastic spotted
in oysters (pictured). However, overall, the most abundant microplastic was
polyethylene which is the world's most popular plastic
+Microplastics enter the waterways through a variety of
means and finish suspended in the liquid. They can be transported long
distances both in water and via the air, taking them to the furthest corners of
the world
They are created when plastics degrade, are
washed or broken up, and are hard to catch and destroy.
Due to their prevalence, researchers are
desperately trying to understand how harmful they are to human and animal
health.
A report commissioned by the United Nations
last year found microplastics in drinking water.
This was the first attempt by the WHO to
examine the potential human health impacts of exposure to microplastics.
Some of the key findings include the
revelation that larger microplastic particles, bigger than 150 micrometres, are
likely to be passed out of our bodies without harm.
Smaller particles could potentially be
absorbed into our organs, however.
It also suggests microplastics have the
potential to both carry disease-causing bacteria and help bacteria become
resistant to antibiotics.t
WHAT FURTHER
RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO ASSESS THE SPREAD AND IMPACT OF MICROPLASTICS?
The World Health Organisation's 2019 report
'Microplastics in Drinking Water' outlined numerous areas for future research
that could shed light on how far spread the problem of microplastic pollution
is, how it may impact human health and what can be done to stop these particles
from entering our water supplies.
How widespread are microplastics?
The following research would clarify the
occurrence of microplastics in drinking-water and freshwater sources:
·
More data are needed on the occurrence of microplastics
in drinking-water to assess human exposure from drinking-water
adequately.
·
Studies on occurrence of microplastics must use
quality-assured methods to determine numbers, shapes, sizes, and composition of
the particles found. They should identify whether the microplastics are coming
from the freshwater environment or from the abstraction, treatment,
distribution or bottling of drinking-water. Initially, this research should
focus on drinking-water thought to be most at risk of particulate
contamination.
·
Drinking-water studies would be usefully supplemented by
better data on fresh water that enable the freshwater inputs to be quantified
and the major sources identified. This may require the development of reliable
methods to track origins and identify sources.
·
A set of standard methods is needed for sampling and
analysing microplastics in drinking-water and fresh water.
·
There is a significant knowledge gap in the understanding
of nanoplastics in the aquatic environment. A first step to address this gap is
to develop standard methods for sampling and analysing nanoplastics.
What are the health implications of
microplastics?
Although water treatment can be effective
in removing particles, there is limited data specific to microplastics. To
support human health risk assessment and management options, the following data
gaps related to water treatment need to be addressed:
·
More research is needed to understand the fate of
microplastics across different wastewater and drinking-water treatment
processes (such as clarification processes and oxidation) under different
operational circumstances, including optimal and sub-optimal operation and the
influence of particle size, shape and chemical composition on removal
efficacy.
·
There is a need to better understand particle composition
pre- and post-water treatment, including in distribution systems. The role of
microplastic breakdown and abrasion in water treatment systems, as well as the
microplastic contribution from the processes themselves should be
considered.
·
More knowledge is needed to understand the presence and
removal of nanoplastic particles in water and wastewater treatment processes
once standard methods for nanoplastics are available.
·
There is a need to better understand the relationships
between turbidity (and particle counts) and microplastic concentrations
throughout the treatment processes.
·
Research is needed to understand the significance of the
potential return of microplastics to the environment from sludge and other
treatment waste streams.
To better understand
microplastic-associated biofilms and their significance, the following research
could be carried out:
·
Further studies could be conducted on the factors that
influence the composition and potential specificity of microplastic-associated
biofilms.
·
Studies could also consider the factors influencing
biofilm formation on plastic surfaces, including microplastics, and how these
factors vary for different plastic materials, and what organisms more commonly
bind to plastic surfaces in freshwater systems.
·
Research could be carried out to better understand the
capacity of microplastics to transport pathogenic bacteria longer distances
downstream, the rate of degradation in freshwater systems and the relative
abundance and transport capacity of microplastics compared with other
particles.
·
Research could consider the risk of horizontal transfer
of antimicrobial resistance genes in plastisphere microorganisms compared to
other biofilms, such as those found in WWTPs.
Can water treatment stop microplastics
entering our water supplies?
Although water treatment can be effective
in removing particles, there is limited data specific to microplastics. To
support human health risk assessment and management options, the following data
gaps related to water treatment need to be addressed:
·
More research is needed to understand the fate of
microplastics across different wastewater and drinking-water treatment
processes (such as clarification processes and oxidation) under different
operational circumstances, including optimal and sub-optimal operation and the
influence of particle size, shape and chemical composition on removal
efficacy.
·
There is a need to better understand particle composition
pre- and post-water treatment, including in distribution systems. The role of
microplastic breakdown and abrasion in water treatment systems, as well as the
microplastic contribution from the processes themselves should be considered.
·
More knowledge is needed to understand the presence and
removal of nanoplastic particles in water and wastewater treatment processes
once standard methods for nanoplastics are available.
·
There is a need to better understand the relationships
between turbidity (and particle counts) and microplastic concentrations
throughout the treatment processes.
·
Research is needed to understand the significance of the
potential return of microplastics to the environment from sludge and other
treatment waste streams.
September Reminds Us to Keep
Whole Grains at the Top of Our Own Food Pyramids
By twin, Wednesday at 9:24 pm
Now that life revolves so much
more around the kitchen, it’s appropriate that September — designated Whole
Grains Month — reminds us of the importance of the underdog of the food
pyramid.
What are whole grains anyway?
They’re the healthy alternative
to refined grains, credited with keeping weight gain at bay, and providing
fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium and other nutrients. A whole grain contains
the three key parts of a seed — the bran, germ and endosperm.
Whole grains can be regular
foods, such as rice, bulgur, farro, quinoa, oatmeal, brown rice, or ingredients
such as buckwheat in pancakes.
Even more important, research has
shown whole grains are an important part of the kind of diet that can keep
weight gain at bay as we age. A Harvard University study, published in the New
England Journal of Medicine, identified whole grains as one of five foods that
helped participants stay healthy and trim. The others were vegetables, fruits,
nuts and yogurt.
The foods that contributed to
weight gain included what might be considered whole grains’ evil twin — refined
grains.
Refined grains are milled,
stripping away the bran and the germ, as well as fiber and other nutrients.
They’re among the foods that the
researchers found contributed to age-related weight gain — crackers, pastries,
desserts, white rice, white bread, potato chips and many kinds of cereals.
Other foods on the weight-gain list were potatoes, processed meats, red meats
and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Most refined grains are enriched,
but they still lack fiber and important vitamins and nutrients.
So keep boosting your immune
system, and feel great about your self-discipline, as you keep whole grains top
of mind.
Thursday, Aug 13th 2020 2PM 40°C 5PM 40°C 5-Day Forecast
Microplastics are discovered in every sample
of seafood purchased at a food market – with the equivalent of a grain of rice
found in sardine flesh
·
Scientists from universities of Queensland
and Exeter bought seafood at market
·
They dissolved microplastics in the edible
tissue of each sample and studied it
·
Discovered the microplastic polyvinyl chloride in every
single specimen
·
Most abundant was polyethylene which is the world's most
popular plastic
·
Sardines were the worst affected delicacy,
with up to 30mg of plastic per serving, approximately the same weight as a
grain of rice
Microplastics have been discovered inside
every single sample of seafood bought at a market as part of a scientific
study.
Researchers cut open oysters, prawns, crabs,
squids and sardines and studied them for any sign of microplastics.
Sardines were found to be the worst affected
and had ingested the largest amount of plastic, up to 30mg per serving - the
same weight as a grain of rice.
Microplastics are tiny particles which are
less than five millimetres (0.2 inches) in length.
The health impact of humans ingesting these
particles remains a concerning mystery.
Scroll down for video
Researchers from the universities of
Queensland and Exeter cut open oysters, prawns, crabs, squids and sardines purchased
at an Australian market and studied them for any sign of microplastics
The study was
led by the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland and has been
published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Academics report plastic levels of 0.04
milligrams (mg) per gram of tissue in squid, 0.07mg in prawns, 0.1mg in
oysters, 0.3mg in crabs and 2.9mg in sardines.
'Considering an average serving, a seafood
eater could be exposed to approximately 0.7mg of plastic when ingesting an
average serving of oysters or squid, and up to 30mg of plastic when eating
sardines, respectively,' said lead author Francisca Ribeiro, a PhD student who
led the research.
'For comparison, 30mg is the average weight
of a grain of rice. Our findings show that the amount of plastics present
varies greatly among species, and differs between individuals of the same
species.
'From the seafood species tested, sardines
had the highest plastic content, which was a surprising
Wearing a neck gaiter
may spread COVID-19 more than wearing no mask at all, study finds
Knitted masks,
bandanas also not as effective
Neck fleece, or gaiter-type neck
coverings, could be as ineffective as not wearing a mask at all, or even
worse. (KSAT)
SAN
ANTONIO – As face
coverings become an essential part of everyday life during the coronavirus
pandemic, researchers are saying that some options may be counterproductive.
Researchers from Duke
University published a study on Friday that
focused on commonly available face masks and coverings, and how efficient they
are in protecting people from infection.
They found cotton masks have a
strong effect, but bandanas, not so much. With neck fleece, or gaiter-type neck
coverings, those could be as ineffective as not wearing a mask at all, or even
worse.
“We noticed that speaking through
some masks (particularly the neck fleece) seemed to disperse the largest
droplets into a multitude of smaller droplets, which explains the apparent
increase in droplet count relative to no mask in that case,” the study
published in Science Advances magazine states.
“Considering that smaller particles
are airborne longer than large droplets (larger droplets sink faster), the use
of such a mask might be counterproductive.”
Researchers tested 14 different
coverings, including bandanas and surgical, knitted, valved N95, fitted N95,
cotton, and fleece masks. Each option was tested 10 times.
Duke
researchers tested 14 masks in a study that focuses on droplet
transmission. (Photo Credit: Emma Fischer, Duke University.)
Mask wearers spoke into the
direction of a laser beam in a dark enclosure. Any droplets that propagated
through the laser beam scattered light, which was recorded by a cell phone
camera, the study says. Droplets were counted in a computer algorithm.
The droplet transmission ranged from
below 0.1% with a fitted N95 mask to 110% with a fleece mask, the study says.
Surgical,
cotton-polypropylene-cotton and 2-layer polypropylene apron masks followed
fitted N95s as the most effective.
A
figure shows droplet transmission through a variety of face masks. (Science
Advances)
The experts say while the experiment
is straightforward, there are limitations.
“Inter-subject variations are to be
expected, for example due to difference in physiology, mask fit, head position,
speech pattern, and such,” the study states.
The co-founder of one gaiter
manufacturer, Vapor Apparel, told The Washington Post that
the face-covering option shouldn’t be dismissed entirely.
“All gaiters are not created equal,”
Chris Bernat of Vapor Apparel said. “There’s a segment of this category that’s
of a much higher quality that’s engineered to be layered.”
The study found bandanas and knitted
masks were among the least effective.
N95 masks
used against coronavirus can be decontaminated with rice cooker: study
Masks maintained their filtration capability
and fit and were cleaned inside and out, per the study
N95 respirator masks,
used to protect against the novel coronavirus, among
other diseases, can be decontaminated by placing them in a rice cooker or
Instant Pot for 50 minutes, according to a study out of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
The N95 respirators are considered the gold standard of personal
protective equipment when it comes to protection from airborne particles
and droplets, according to health experts.
The masks, when placed in dry heat in an electric cooker,
maintained their filtration capability and fit and were cleaned inside and out,
according to the study published in the journal Environmental Science and
Technology Letters. The findings suggest this may allow wearers to safely reuse
the respirators, which are typically intended for one-time use.
“A pandemic such as COVID-19 can cause a sudden depletion of the
worldwide supply of respirators, forcing health care providers to reuse
them," the researchers stated in the study.
The researchers found that when
the masks were placed through one cycle in a rice cooker maintained at
about 212°F for 50 minutes, the N95 respirators were decontaminated
inside and out, from four different classes of the virus, including a
coronavirus. The researchers stated in a news release that it was more effective than
ultraviolet light against the virus, and noted that the masks' filtration and
fit remained intact.
Rick cookers may help to
decontaminate N95 respirators, according to a recent study. (iStock)
“We built a chamber in my aerosol-testing lab specifically to
look at the filtration of the N95 respirators, and measured particles going
through it,” stated Vishal Verma, a civil and environmental engineering
professor and co-author of the study, in a news release. “The respirators
maintained their filtration capacity of more than 95% and kept their fit, still
properly seated on the wearer’s face, even after 20 cycles of decontamination
in the electric cooker.”
The researchers warned that no water should be added to the
cooker, and the heat must be a dry heat. They instructed placing a small towel
to cover the bottom of the cooker to avoid the N95 mask coming into contact
with the heating element and noted that multiple masks can be stacked to fit
inside the cooker at the same time.
“On the basis of these
results, dry heat decontamination generated by an electric cooker (e.g., rice
cookers, Instant Pots and ovens) could be an effective and accessible
decontamination method for the safe reuse of N95 respirators. We recommend
users measure the temperature during decontamination to ensure the respirator
temperature can be maintained at 100°C [212°F] for 50 minutes," the study
authors wrote.
The electric-cooker method
can be useful for health care workers and first responders, especially
those in smaller clinics or hospitals that do not have access to large-scale
heat sanitization equipment, the researchers stated in the release. For a
video of the method, click here.
https://www.foxnews.com/health/n95-masks-coronavirus-rice-cooker-decontamination-study
Rwanda: Why Consumer Price Index Rose By 11.5%
11 AUGUST 2020
By Emmanuel Ntirenganya
The Consumer Price Index in Rwanda increased by
11.5 per cent between July 2019 and July 2020, according to latest figures from
the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) on August 10, 2020.
This, according to NISR, means that for an item
which was costing Rwf500 in July 2019, the price rose to Rwf557.5 in July 2020.
The statistics are contained in the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) JULY 2020 released by NISR.
CPI is a measure of the average change in
prices, over time, of goods and services purchased by households, such as food
and transportation.
According to the figures, Urban CPI increased
by 9.2 percent in July 2020 compared to the same month of 2019, while Rural CPI
increased by 13.2 percent on annual basis and increased by 1.6 percent on
monthly basis.
The annual average inflation rate between July
2020 and July 2019 was 7 percent.
In urban arears, prices for food and
non-alcoholic beverages increased by 11.9 percent; while alcoholic beverages,
tobacco and narcotics increased by 25.1 percent in July 2020 compared to July
2019.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other
fuels' increased by 4.3 percent and transport increased by 22.6 percent.
On an annual basis, the local goods index
increased by 10.1 percent, the imported goods index grew by 6.3 percent, while
the fresh products index increased by 19.6 percent. Fresh products are food
products which have seasonal fluctuations. The energy index increased by 5
percent.
Prices of some food items have gone up significantly.
This is the case for beans which went up from Rwf450 a kilogramme in 2019 to
Rwf650 a kilogramme in parts of the country such as Burera District in Northern
Province even during bean harvest season (in July 2020).
At Kimironko Market in Gasabo District, the
price of mangoes more than doubled from Rwf1,000 to Rwf2,500 a kilogramme,
according to fruit dealers.
Still at the same market, mandarin (citrus
fruit), a kilogramme saw its cost jump from Rwf1,500 to Rwf2,500, a more than
half rise.
Factors that drove up such price include the
shortage of supply compounded with disrupted trade with Burundi which
constrained import of such fruits into Rwanda, according to information from
the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).
Dr Canisius Bihira, a socio-economist told The
New Times that inflation and insufficient domestic food production are to blame
for the rising prices that push up the cost of living.
"Agricultures is still lacking in
technologies, which affects farm productivity and the production of food, hence
leaving a gap to be filled by imports," he said citing sugar and rice
imports.
"The country should do its best to
increase agricultural production among others, so that prices go down. It
should also protect its currency in order to protect its purchasing power from
decline," he said indicating that the Rwandan franc has depreciated almost
by half against the dollar in less than a decade.
Some causes of CPI increase
NISR explains that there was a low production
for commodities such as bean in the first agriculture season (Season A) of 2020
due to heavy rain, and flooding of some marshlands for rice plantations.
This situation, it said, caused the shortage of
such commodity on the market as shown by the increase of 17 percent in prices
of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Close
In the transport sector, NISR indicated that in
the framework of stopping the spread of Covid-19, the number of passengers in
buses was reduced.
The statistics institute said that for the
sustainability of this important service, the bus transport fare was increased
and resulted in the overall rise of 22.6 percent in transport tariffs.
On the implications of such CPI increase, NISR
says that in the short term, this is the normal behaviour of the price trend
when there are shocks like those that are highlighted above, adding that when
shock disappears prices tend to become normal.
However, the institute says that if an upward
trend in prices continues in the long term, it means the purchasing power of
household keeps reducing.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202008120400.html
Rice
Conservation Program Renewed for $7M
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- It's been a rough 2020 so far,
but area rice farmers finally got some good news with the recent announcement
that the Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship Regional Conservation
Partnership Program (RCPP), led by USA Rice, has been renewed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) with a $7 million award from the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
"The 2018 Farm Bill allows USDA to renew
worthy RCPP projects and the Rice Stewardship Partnership's Mid-South project
was an obvious candidate," said Josh Hankins, the USA Rice field director
who manages the Rice Stewardship Partnership. "This new funding will
allow the Partnership to implement working lands conservation practices for
rice producers in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana."
To date, Partnership program opportunities have
focused on three core areas: water management, nutrient management, and
winter habitat for wildlife. The renewed Graduated Water Stewardship RCPP
will continue that focus.
"This Mid-South RCPP is one of two renewals
landed by the Partnership," said Scott Manley, director of conservation
programs with Ducks Unlimited. "The other is "Improving Water
Quality with Nutrient Management Conservation Practice 590" in south
Louisiana." 
The sign-up timelines for these renewal projects
have not been finalized but will likely take place in early 2021. That
critical information will be shared as soon as it is available.
"The Graduated Water Stewardship RCPP
project has been a model of successful collaboration between partners to
maximize the delivery of conservation on the ground in the Mid-South,"
said Mike Sullivan, Arkansas state conservationist with NRCS.
The rice industry's working partnership with
NRCS is supported by the following financial sponsors: National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Walmart Foundation, the Mosaic Company
Foundation, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Chevron U.S.A., RiceTec, Entergy,
Anheuser-Busch InBev, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, the Irene W. and C.B.
Pennington Foundation, BASF, American Rice, Inc. - Riviana Foods, Inc., the Joe
W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Delta Plastics, Corteva Agriscience,
Cargill, Wells Fargo, Farmers Rice Milling Company, Horizon Ag, Turner's Creek
& Bombay Hook Farms, MacDon Industries, Riceland Foods, and Ducks
Unlimited.
WASDE
Report Released
|
|
|
Sainsbury's,
Iceland and Waitrose issue urgent product recalls on cheese, milk and rice
The Food Standards Agency says if
you have any of the following products, you should return them to your local
supermarket for a full refund as soon as possible
Supermarkets across the UK have
issued product recalls on meat, rice and even milk over fears they could lead
to food poisoning.
Sainsbury's and Iceland have
issued recalls on pre-packed rice and chicken - and customers are being urged
to return them to stores for a full refund.
The Food Standards Agency said
Iceland's chip shop curry chicken breast toppers are being recalled as they
could contain salmonella bacteria.
Waitrose is recalling its own-brand
chicken satay with sweet chilli sauce because it contains peanuts - which is
not mentioned on the label.
When a food product is recalled,
for any reason, the Food Standards Agency provides details on what customers
should do if they have bought the items, as well as detailed information on why
the product is being pulled from shelves.
It said anyone with any of the
items below should visit their nearest supermarket for a full refund.
Iceland
Iceland has recalled two of its own brand chicken products after
testing found the presence of salmonella in them (Image: Getty)
Iceland has recalled two of its
own brand chicken products after testing found the presence of salmonella in
them.
Customers have been asked to
return its Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken
Popsters to stores.
Salmonella can result in symptoms
including fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps if consumed.
The affected Curry Chicken Breast
Toppers were the 400g packs with best before dates of 27 February 2021, 17
March 2021 and 8 April 2021.
The Southern Fried Chicken
Popsters affected were sold in 220g packs with a best before date of 4 April,
2021.
Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast
Toppers:
Pack size: 400g
Best before
·
February
27, 2021
·
March
17, 2021
·
April
8, 2021
Southern Fried Chicken Popsters:
Pack size: 220g
Best before: April 4, 2021
Waitrose
Waitrose is recalling its own-brand chicken satay with sweet
chilli sauce (Image: Getty Images)
Waitrose is recalling its own-brand
chicken satay with sweet chilli sauce.
This is because an incorrect dip
has been packed in the product resulting in fish and peanuts not being
mentioned on the label.
The presence of fish and peanuts
poses a possible health risk to anyone with these allergies.
Pack size: 85g
Best before: August 17, 2020
Sainsbury's
You can return these items to your local store for a full refund (Image: Universal Images Group
Editorial)
READ MORE
·
Why you might see Tesco, Sainsbury's and more shoppers
wearing a sunflower badge
Sainsbury's is recalling its
semi-skimmed UHT milk because of possible microbiological contamination.
The supermarket has
taken the precautionary step of recalling the UHT milk as the contamination
could lead to it being unsafe to consume.
Pack size: 1 litre
Best before
·
December
28, 2020
·
December
29, 2020
Beef and Ale pie
Waitrose & Partners Slow
Cooked Beef and Ale Pie is being recalled because it contains hazelnuts and
milk which are not mentioned on the label.
This means the product is a
possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts (hazelnuts) and/or an
allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.
Product details
Pack size: 400g
Batch code: L0125
Best before: November 2021
Uncle Ben's Brown Basmati
Mars Food UK is recalling Uncle
Ben’s Brown Basmati ready to heat rice pouches as some packs may contain pieces
of glass.
The possible presence of glass
makes this product unsafe to eat.
Pack size : 250g
Best before
·
November
17, 2020
·
December
8, 2020
·
December
9, 2020
·
January
8, 2021
·
January
18, 2021
·
January
19, 2021
·
March
2, 2021
·
March
16, 2021
·
March
20, 2021
·
May
24, 2021
·
June
14, 2021
·
June
15, 2021
·
July
3, 2021
·
July
19, 2021
Baked Whole King Scallops
Highland Bay Seafoods is
recalling its Baked Whole King Scallops with a creamy leek and kale sauce
topped with mash potato because it contains fish which is not mentioned on the
label.
This means the product is a
possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to fish.
Pack size: 200g (2 scallops in a
pack)
Batch code: R006, R007, R008, and
20106
Best before:
·
September
2020
·
December
2020
·
April
2021
Benyfit Natural Pet Food
Benyfit Natural Pet Food Ltd has
taken the precautionary step of recalling several types of frozen raw dog food
products containing beef because the products might contain salmonella.
These products have been sold by
various independent pet food stores and online.
Product details:
·
Benyfit
Natural 80-10-10 Beef Meat Feast (1kg).
·
Benyfit
Natural 80-10-10 Beef Meat Feast (500g).
·
Benyfit
Natural Beef & Tripe (1kg)
·
Benyfit
Natural Beef & Tripe (500g)
·
Benyfit
Natural Succulent Beef (1kg)
·
Benyfit
Natural Succulent Beef (500g)
·
Embark
on Raw Natural Working Dog Food Beef Complete (454g)
·
Neew
Dog Premium Beef (1kg)
·
Neew
Dog Premium Beef (500g)
·
Unique
Raw Chicken, Beef & Ox Recipe (1kg).
For individual batch codes visit food.gov.uk/news-alerts.
Golden Curry Medium Hot Sauce
JFC (UK) Ltd is recalling S&B
Golden Curry Medium Hot Sauce Mix because it contains celery and mustard which
are not mentioned on the label.
This means the product is a
possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to celery and/or mustard.
Pack size: 1kg
Best before:
·
December
22, 2020;
·
March
16, 2022
·
May
7, 2022
·
May
23, 2022
·
June
12, 2022
·
July
10, 2022
Primula Cheese tubes
Primula Ltd is recalling all
Primula Cheese tubes, (chilled and ambient) because the products might be
contaminated with Clostridium botulinum due to a production fault.
A statement from the FSA says:
"Manufacturing controls that could potentially affect the safety of the
products listed above could not be demonstrated satisfactorily by the company.
"The issue relates to
controlling factors to prevent the growth and toxin production of Clostridium
botulinum.
"Botulinum toxin may cause a
serious form of food poisoning called botulism and can be fatal.
"A recall from customers is
being carried out as a precautionary measure."
Products Include:
·
Product code: Primula Plain Original Cheese
Spread
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Cheese Spread with
Smoked Paprika
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Cheese Spread with
Jalapenos
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Light Cheese Spread
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Cheese Spread with Ham
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Cheese Spread with
Chives
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Cheese Spread with
Prawns
Pack size: 150g
Best before: From 25 December
2020 up to and including 28 January 2021
·
Product code: Primula Original Cheese Spread
(ambient)
Pack size: 100g
Best before: From 30 October 2020
up to and including 10 December 2020
·
Product code: Primula Cheese Spread with Ham
(ambient)
Pack size: 100g
Best before: From 30 October 2020
up to and including 10 December 2020
·
Product code: Primula Cheese spread with
Chives (ambient)
Pack size: 100g
Best before: From 30 October 2020
up to and including 10 December 2020
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/sainsburys-iceland-waitrose-issue-urgent-22508657
Some of
the UK's biggest supermarkets have warned shoppers not to consume any of the
affected items
Rachel PughMoney-Saving & Shopping
Editor
Will Rider & Brittany Tijou-Smith
·
15:58, 11 AUG 2020Bottom of Form
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Iceland and Waitrose urgently recall food
products (Image: 2008 Getty Images)
Several of the UK's major supermarkets
including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Iceland and Waitrose have recalled a series of
products over health and safety fears.
The affected products have been listed by the
Food Standards Agency (FSA), and shoppers have been advised not to consume any
items on the list.
·
Aldi shopper feeds her family for £12.50 per
person a week - this is how
These
are all of the latest supermarket product recalls, according to Kent Live :
Sainsbury's is recalling its semi-skimmed UHT
milk because of possible microbiological contamination.
The supermarket has taken the precautionary
step of recalling the less than 2 per cent fat, UHT milk as the contamination
could lead to it being spoiled and being unsafe to consume.
Pack
size: 1 litre
Best
before
·
December
28, 2020
·
December
29, 2020
Iceland
Iceland is recalling two chicken products after
the presence of salmonella in both products caused it to be deemed unsafe to
eat.
Iceland's chip shop curry chicken breast
toppers are affected by this recall.
Pack
size: 400g
Best
before
·
February
27, 2021
·
March
17, 2021
·
April
8, 2021
Iceland's southern fried chicken popsters are
also to be avoided as they have been affected.
Pack
size: 220g
Best
before: April 4, 2021
Waitrose
Waitrose is recalling Waitrose and Partners
chicken satay with sweet chilli sauce.
This is because an incorrect dip has been
packed in the product resulting in fish and peanuts not being mentioned on the
label.
The presence of fish and peanuts has posed a
possible health risk of anyone with these allergies.
Pack
size: 85g
Best
before: August 17, 2020
Beef and Ale
pie
Waitrose & Partners Slow Cooked Beef and
Ale Pie is being recalled because it contains hazelnuts and milk which are not
mentioned on the label.
This means the product is a possible health
risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts (hazelnuts) and/or an allergy or
intolerance to milk or milk constituents.
Product
details
Pack
size: 400g
Batch
code: L0125
Best
before: November 2021
Uncle Ben's
Brown Basmati
Mars Food UK is recalling Uncle Ben’s Brown
Basmati ready to heat rice pouches as some packs may contain pieces of glass.
The possible presence of glass makes this
product unsafe to eat
Pack
size : 250g
Best
before
·
November
17, 2020
·
December
8, 2020
·
December
9, 2020
·
January
8, 2021
·
January
18, 2021
·
January
19, 2021
·
March
2, 2021
·
March
16, 2021
·
March
20, 2021
·
May
24, 2021
·
June
14, 2021
·
June
15, 2021
·
July
3, 2021
·
July
19, 2021
Baked Whole
King Scallops
Highland Bay Seafoods is recalling their Baked
Whole King Scallops with a creamy leek and kale sauce topped with mash potato
because it contains fish which is not mentioned on the label.
This means the product is a possible health
risk for anyone with an allergy to fish.
Pack
size: 200g (2 scallops in a pack)
Batch
code: R006, R007, R008, and 20106
Best
before:
·
September
2020
·
December
2020
·
April
2021
Benyfit
Natural Pet Food
Benyfit Natural Pet Food Ltd has taken the
precautionary step of recalling several types of frozen raw dog food products
containing beef because the products might contain salmonella.
These products have been sold by various
independent pet food stores and online.
Product
details:
·
Benyfit
Natural 80-10-10 Beef Meat Feast (1kg).
·
Benyfit
Natural 80-10-10 Beef Meat Feast (500g).
·
Benyfit
Natural Beef & Tripe (1kg)
·
Benyfit
Natural Beef & Tripe (500g)
·
Benyfit
Natural Succulent Beef (1kg)
·
Benyfit
Natural Succulent Beef (500g)
·
Embark
on Raw Natural Working Dog Food Beef Complete (454g)
·
Neew
Dog Premium Beef (1kg)
·
Neew
Dog Premium Beef (500g)
·
Unique
Raw Chicken, Beef & Ox Recipe (1kg).
For
individual batch codes visit food.gov.uk/news-alerts.
Golden Curry
Medium Hot Sauce
JFC (UK) Ltd is recalling S&B Golden Curry
Medium Hot Sauce Mix because it contains celery and mustard which are not
mentioned on the label.
This means the product is a possible health
risk for anyone with an allergy to celery and/or mustard.
Pack
size: 1kg
Best
before:
·
December
22, 2020;
·
March
16, 2022
·
May
7, 2022
·
May
23, 2022
·
June
12, 2022
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/tesco-sainsburys-rice-milk-recall-18750390
Rice exports
jump 52% in Apr-May
Vishwanath Kulkarni Bengaluru |
Updated on August 11, 2020 Published
on August 11, 2020
Panic buying to secure food supplies aiding
shipments, say exporters
Non-basmati rice exports are seen
rebounding this year as the shipments have begun on a strong note registering
over 52 per cent growth in the first two months of the current financial year.
Strong demand from traditional
buyers in Africa and likely panic buying by some countries even as the Covid-19
pandemic tightened its grip across the world during this period fuelled the
rice shipments, exporters said.
Shipments during April-May this
year stood at 11.13 lakh tonnes as against 7.3 lakh in the same period last
year, according to DGCIS’ latest figures. In value terms, the exports were up
63 per cent at ₹3,429 crore as compared to ₹2,097 crore. In dollar value, the
shipments were up 56 per cent at $452 million as compared to $289 million
recorded in the same period last year.
“There is a rebound in exports of
non-basmati rice,” said BV Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters
Association. Rao attributed the spurt in shipments to the rebound in demand
from traditional buyers in the African region and also to the factors such as
favourable currency, the availability stocks and competitive pricing of the Indian
cereal.
Growth in shipment
“Countries could have bought more
rice during this period to secure their food supplies as the Covid-19 pandemic
was tightening its gripped around the world. Such panic buying could be
attributed to around 10 per cent growth in shipments during this period,” Rao
said.
Apart from African nations and
Nepal, the non-basmati rice shipments has picked up in Malaysia, Philippines
and Russia, among other countries.
India, the second-largest
producer of rice, has been the largest exporter of the cereal after shipments
of non-basmati were allowed from 2011. However, the non-basmati rice shipments
had witnessed a decline in the past two years after the Indian cereal had
turned expensive. However, with Asian players such as Thailand and Vietnam
facing supply issues, Indian rice has turned competitive in recent months. “We
are at least 10 per cent lower than Thai parboiled rice,” Rao said, adding that
if demand from Bangladesh picks up, the shipments could rise to 2017-18 levels.
The steady growth in rice
production has been aiding the exports. From around 96 million tonnes in
2010-11, rice production is seen touching an all-time high of 117.94 million
tonnes in 2019-20. In the ongoing kharif season, rice planting has been higher
by 17 per cent at 321 lakh ha till August 7.
The basmati shipments during
April-May were marginally up in volumes at 8.74 lakh tonnes (8.64 lakh tonnes
in the same period last year). However, in value terms, the shipments
registered a decline at ₹5,970 crore (₹6,488 crore) due to weak pricing.
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/www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-exports-jump-52-in-apr-may/a
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