Are we eating to die? -

We are often told that we should not eat to live, but live to eat. The situation seems to have turned a full vicious circle and today—despite all the marvels of modern medicine--most of us are often unknowingly forced to eat to die.





On New Year’s day a senior minister made a shocking revelation on television. He revealed that two gunny bags loaded with normally lushes Karatha Kolombu had been brought to the canteen at the Parliamentary complex for dessert. But the Ministers and MPs were horrified by what they found though some cynics and opposition critics might quip it was a taste of their own medicine. They found that the mangoes were uneatable because they had been forcibly ripened by the use of some chemical which in large quantities may be toxic. The minister said the mangoes tasted like bitter medicine and the seeds were white, showing clearly that a chemical had been used to forcibly ripen the fruits. If such deception and devilry is taking place in the house of houses with all its powers and privileges, what is the plight of millions of less privileged or powerless people.

The Government Medical Officers' Association President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya and organic agriculture specialist Thilak Kandegedara last week revealed shocking details about the extent of food poisoning or pollution in Sri Lanka. The GMOA President who is leading this association not only to fight for the rights of medical officers but more so for social justice said the doctors believed the government should act immediately and effectively to save the people from a slow death because they were eating a little bit of poison with every meal. Dr. Padeniay urged the Health Ministry to coordinate with other ministries such as the Trade Ministry and set up a wide-powered and independent Food Regulatory Authority to ensure that safe and nourishing food was made available to the people at affordable prices.

Some of the most disturbing cases of food pollution revealed included what was branded and sold as super-quality coriander or Koththamalli as it is better known. The seeds were golden in colour to make it look super but tests revealed that the shine had come because the highly-toxic sulfur dioxide gas had been sprayed on stale stocks of this condiment or popular curative ingredient. So it means that someone who has a severe cough, cold or fever and drinks this super Koththamalli is likely to end up in hospital with some sever ailment which even doctors cannot diagnosed.  

Another case was that of rice. Mr.  Kandegedara said he had bought some packets of red rice from a state institution but when the red rice was taken home and washed it turned out to be white. That means the rice had been sprayed with a toxic dye. Those who indulge in such wickedness because of their greed to make more money and in the process cause illnesses or even death to other people including innocent children, should have a millstone tied around their necks and cast into the deepest ocean.

While the government has a clear responsibility to act, the people also should take some action. Besides social action including protest and demonstration, the people need to know how they could get safe food. For instance internationally-famous chef Publis has published a book which points out that there are as many as 385 varieties of edible vegetables and more than 100 varieties of tasty fruits in our country. For example the good old Kos has not been and cannot be polluted because it is out of the reach of those wicked people and their agro-chemicals. The people also need to agitate for gradual reduction of cultivation with the use of agro-chemicals and for more encouragement and incentive to be given to those who dare to venture into the more challenging but safer and better way of organic farming.