Selangor Journal

Papadom preach: Consumer group warns Malaysians on high salt content

Photo taken from thestar.com.my

By Selangor Journal Staff

GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) today revealed a shocking fact on sodium content found in various papadom brands, sold in Malaysia.

The consumer group said its lab had tested 11 brands of papadom in the Malaysian market and discovered that they contain at least 1,000mg of sodium per 100g while four other brands contained more than 2,000mg of sodium per 100g.

CAP President SM Mohamed Idris said five pieces of papadom weighing about 13g each is equivalent to a total of 1,300mg of sodium, 65% of the 2,000mg daily intake limit according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“With the sodium from other food items in a typical Indian meal, you would easily exceed that 2,000mg limit.

“We would like to advise the authorities to pull these off the shelves as the excess sodium in these products is dangerous,” he said in a press conference earlier.

He said other risks in consuming papadams includes a high sodium diet which could cause high blood pressure, kidney failure, strokes and water retention with risk of causing heart diseases overtime due to their deep-fried cooking method.

Although roasting papadom can be considered a healthier method of preparing the snack, Idris pointed out that researches has shown that it could cause cancer, due to a carcinogen or cancer-causing substance formed because of the alkaline salt (sodium benzoate) content.

To top it off, Idris said the sodium benzoate used to preserve papadoms can also be hazardous to health, while spices found in the crackers may cause acidity, constipation, hyperacidity and excess gas or flatulence.

As a cherry on top, he then criticised the typically unhygienic preparations of papadoms which is often exposed to contaminations.

 

Seeking regulations from Health Ministry, Customs on papadom

 

Meanwhile, Idris is proposing that the Customs Department inspect all imported papadom and banning brands with high level of sodium from being distributed in Malaysia.

He also urged the Health Ministry to set an appropriate limit to the sodium content in papadom while advising consumers to stay away from the salty delicacy for the time being.

“In view of this shocking find, we call on all to refrain from eating them until these manufacturers comply with the limits imposed,” he said.

Papadom is a thin, crisp, disc-shaped cracker that is either fried or cooked with dry heat. It is an essential side dish in most Indian based cuisine, mainly banana leaf rice.

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