Question

Find out a food technical regulation and standards for any selected food items in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (example- pickled fruits, pickled cucumber). 

Answer 1

Food, the most basic requirement of living being.Preservation of food is an age old tradition in a healthy manner.But technological advancement and innovation has put this preservation method under risk by adding food additives.

For instance when a pickle is prepared in home it can be stored for weeks to months but when it is manufactured from factories it can be stored for a minimum period of 2 years How this is possible? Only because of the artificial chemical preservatives and additives added to them prolongs their usage time.

In cucumber pickles fermented carbohydrates are turned into acid,after a few days of process .Salt stock is achieved this is finally added with alum (potassium aluminium sulphate )Apart from this Vinegar is also used .

Inorganic substance like sulphur dioxide ,propyl Gallate and sulphites are used in the preservation of pickled fruits and vegetables

Though it is approproved by FDA and in minimal quantity in food long term use can lead to health effects like

• Diarrhoea
• Itching
• Hives
• Skin rashes
• Irritable
• Allergic reaction
• Increasing the risk of cancer
• Propyl Gallate can cause liver damage and breathing problem
• Sulphites can cause headaches, pain,allergic reaction,cancer ,palpitations

Hence it is always Pati be cautious when trying to buy and consume these types of food.