Speaking to TOI, JK Jauhari, senior scientist at CSIR-NBRI, said, "The bacteria called salmonella is transmitted through water to betel leaves. However, it is not able to enter inside the plant leaf, and remains present externally over the surface of the betel leaves." He further added that the problem can be addressed in India, if the surface of the paan leaves is medically sterilized before they are packed for exports.
"Since betel leaves are directly consumed by people, hence, care should be taken to ensure that the substance used for sterilization is non-toxic. The best possible sterilizing substance in this regard could be diluted saline water, which will help the betel leaf or paan to retain its freshness and at the same time make it free from bacteria," Jauhari added.
European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), in its annual report this week, had warned that there have been consistent reports of salmonella contamination of betel leaves from India. The EU had already issued a ban on the import of paan leaves from Bangladesh earlier this year, effective until at least till the end of July.
"The continuing reason since 2011 for the high number of reports on salmonella is paan leaves. The continuous reports notified by the UK prompted the adoption of a safeguard measure suspending temporarily imports of paan leaves from Bangladesh and setting up reinforced checks for paan leaves from India and Thailand," the RASFF 2013 annual report said. Salmonella poisoning causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting in humans.
Endorsing Jauhari's opinion, Chhotelal Chaurasia, general secretary of Rashtriya Paan Kisaan Union, said, "If surface sterilization can render the paan leaves bacteria-free, then I don't think the paan growers would have any problem in allowing their betel leaves to undergo the sterilization process." However, he added that the onus to implement the surface sterilisation lies with the Paan exporters, who have more facilities at their disposal than the Paan growers.
Manish Chaurasia, a Delhi-based Paan exporter, when contacted, said, "The best way to retain the freshness of the Paan leaves and ensure that they are free from bacteria is by giving them adequate exposure to moisture at room temperature." He further added that paan leaves are very delicate and may get damaged if they are treated with hot water or cold water.
Normally, it takes 7-10 days for exporters to send paan leaves to the respective destinations, while it takes a couple for days for the paan leaves to reach the local markets (from the fields). Similar views were also expressed by Saraswat Mandal, a Howrah-based exporter of paan and its oil.
Pa(a)n world presence
India exports paan to:
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, France, Germany, Hongkong, Kenya, Nepal, The Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Yemen.
In 2013-14, India earned nearly $40 lakh (39,75,827) through export of 50,54,059kg of paan
In 2012-13, India earned $33,99,238 through export of 47,92,384kg of paan
Paan growing districts in Uttar Pradesh
Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Jaunpur, Mahoba, Lalitpur, Banda, Sitapur, Varanasi, Unnao, Barabanki, Pratapgarh, Ballia, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Hardoi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Lucknow
Paan growing states in India
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh
(Source: RTI)
http://ift.tt/1lSv9m8 Alert System for Food and Feed,betel leaves bacteria-free
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