Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today informed the House that use of Monosodium Glutamate in Momos has been declared as unsafe.He said a special drive to detect use of Monosodium Glutamate in Momos was conducted by Drugs and Food Control organization J&K in this regard. The Minister was replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Ramesh Arora in which he drew that attention of the government towards ‘a matter of urgent public importance viz the situation arisen due to use of MSG/Azinomoto in Momos and supplements used in Gym which cause serious kidney problem and other related diseases including cancer.’ The Minister said that 8 samples of Momos were lifted for analytical purposes, of which 6 were declared as unsafe for human consumption. He said the defaulters were immediately prosecuted in the appropriate Court of Law and the matters are still sub-judice. He said that awareness programme against the use of Monosodium Glutamate were also conducted.
With regard to Food Supplements, the Minister said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has requested all the States to initiate a special drive to check the use of banned substances in food Supplements and in case of any suspicion, samples, may be drawn and sent to National Anti-Doping Agency.The Minister said that in response to the communication of FSSAI, 9 samples of Food Supplements were sent to the said agency, of which 1 product namely “Grorich Powder" was declared to be containing a prohibited substance namely 2-phenethyleamine-stimulant, at low concentration and which can put the health of its users at risk. He said the reports of 3 samples of Health Supplements sent to National Anti-Doping Agency are still awaited.The Minister informed the House that accordingly the manufacture, storage, sale, distribution of "Grorich" manufactured by M/S Utility Pharmaceuticals Solan (H.P.) was prohibited in J&K by the Commissioner Food Safety.
Replying to a supplementary, the Minister said that the Ajinomoto is an additive used to enhance taste. Main ingredient of Ajinomoto is MSG. It is known as Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). It is found in all fast food products and is crucial ingredient of all Chinese food items. He said main health effects of MSG are High Cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excessive body fat, Sterility in females and it may also cause high blood pressure, water retention during pregnancy, Migraine Headaches, Abnormal heart beats, chest pain, cardiac muscle arrest, Numbness, tingling or burning sensations in face and neck, Asthma problems, Weight gain, Hypertension, Sleep related breathing problems, Snoring, Cancer incidence increasing and Sleeplessness.