Nor do we know what we eat

2000/11/14 Mendiburu, Joana - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Abeltzaintza
• Dietetika/Elikagaiak

Due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a lot of food quality controls are recently discussed. However, quality has not been limited to the use of feed and although sometimes you do not worry too much, it is a daily problem. Therefore, it is essential to measure and control the usual use of potentially harmful hormones and veterinary drugs for health. With this intention the European Commission is working. This month ends the project being carried out by the Commission for the easy detection of these two products. Six European municipalities have participated in this study, which has lasted for 30 months. The aim is to ensure food security through reliable and rapid analyses, especially in dairy and meat products.

Previous studies Previous studies

The techniques used so far only detect a part of these products and, in addition, take a long time to finish the analysis. It is not surprising, therefore, that from time to time, in the market it is too warm to prevent access to contaminated food. To prevent this from happening in the future, in order to facilitate and speed up research in food, they have invented a biodetector that performs another type of analysis.

The biosensor functions as a magnet with molecules of hormones and drugs. That is, placing them on the surface of the food to be analyzed attracts all these molecules. Then, to measure their concentration, it is essential to add antibodies that will join these molecules. The subsequent analysis is based on the optical effect. The biosensor is sent the light and, seeing in which direction it returns, deduct the molecular concentration.

The examination can be done in any meat and hazelnut, and also requires only about three minutes. In principle it will be used in the food laboratories in which official controls are performed and in which a lot of meat and milk is produced. This technique has been made known to food laboratories, large producers and consumer associations.

In this way, it is expected that henceforth the healing habits with antibiotics will be reduced and the use of hormones is measured. However, until the French Minister of Agriculture, Jean Glavany, fulfills his word and prohibits the use of all animal fat in the food of cows, it is not possible to say if with these studies food security is definitively guaranteed.

Meanwhile, everyone will have to choose. Continue as before or, if you are too frightened, become vegetarians.