There is a need to launch a concerted and comprehensive campaign against fast food in the country as serious health issues are caused by consumption of fast food items, said Shri V Muraleedharan, minister of state for external affairs and parliamentary affairs. According to him, health and environment issues also should be part of the campaign. He was speaking after releasing the book, Fast Food: The Lure and the Trap – Can India save its youth?, written by Dr Suresh Kumar C, paediatrician and food activist, and published by Indus Scrolls Press, in New Delhi on August 3. The minister also launched the ‘Fast Food Free India’ campaign at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Vandana Shiva, eminent environmentalist and food sovereignty activist, said corporations are inducing changes in the food habits of the people. Through massive promotional activities, the corporations are pushing food products which are not only harmful but low nutrional quality. According to her, food processing on a massive scale results on losing quality of food products.
Shri Jayant Sahasrabuddhe, National Organising Secretary, Vijnana Bharati, congratulated the author and publisher for taking up such an important topic before the public. Shri Gopal Arya, National Convenor, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, said getting addicted to fast food affects the food absorption capacity of human beings.
Varghese K George, the resident editor of The Hindu, who congratulated Suresh said many food items have invaded into our platter. “People earlier used to consume seasonal fruits. Now there are all-season fruits,” he said. He talked elaborately about the diseases caused by unhealthy food.
Dr GG Gangadharan introduced the book. Talking about his experience, Suresh said there is not enough awareness about the perils of fast food addiction in the country. He said even some parents were least bothered about the impact of food on their children.
According to Suresh, fast food kills more people than smoking. The truth about the fast food industry is yet to be known, thanks to the massive media cover-up.
Welcoming the gathering, G Sreedathan, MD, Indus Scrolls, said this book was taken up for publication as part of the social responsibility of the institution. He said Indus Scrolls is more than a business initiative but a vision which is symbolised in the motto of the organisation. “This campaign fits into that context. This book is a token of our social responsibility. In Hindi they say – Kuch kaam ke liye, kuch Ram ke liye’. Ram means our society,” he added.
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