Metro
TFA: Expert raises alarm over amount in Nigerians dishes
By Laide Akinboade
An health expert has raised alarm over the amount of Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs), which are bad fatty acids in Nigerian dishes.
In a statement issued by a Physician and President Medical Initiative For Africa, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, and made available to journalists in Abuja, he said it is imperative for individuals to avoid to the barest minimum the consumption of TFAs in their diets, it is established that such TFAs have health hazards.
The statement reads, “With the recent advocacy to eliminate Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) from the food supply system in Nigeria, a critical question in the minds of many is what exactly are the sources of trans fatty acids? Dietary fats are the most concentrated form of food energy. Fats that are liquid at room temperature are called oils, while fats that are firm at room temperature are called solids. We have two types of dietary fats: saturated and unsaturated. The difference between the two depends on the amount of hydrogen atoms that surround the fatty acid structure, called “saturation.” Saturated fatty acids are “saturated” with hydrogen atoms and are typically solid, while unsaturated fatty acids are not “saturated” with them and are typically liquid.TFAs are unsaturated fatty acids that come from either natural or industrial sources.
“Naturally-occurring trans fat come from ruminants (cows and sheep). Industrially-produced trans fat are formed in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil, converting the liquid into a solid, and resulting in “partially hydrogenated” oil (PHO).”
He noted, “Hydrogenation is a chemical process that adds hydrogen to the unsaturated bonds. In this way, an unsaturated fat can be turned into a saturated fat and increase its melting point . For edible purposes and for commercial use, we produce solid fats, (such as Margarines) which contains hydrogenated (hardened) oils as their major ingredients. This is because of successfully converting low-melting unsaturated fatty acids and glycerides to higher-melting saturated products.”
He explained, “partially hydrogenated oils are made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil (hydrogenation process) to increase shelf-life and flavour stability of foods. Partial hydrogenation results in the addition of hydrogen atoms at some of the empty positions, with a corresponding reduction in the number of double bonds.
“Typical commercial hydrogenation is partial to obtain a malleable mixture of fats that is solid at room temperature, but melts during baking, or consumption. In a nutshell, it makes it edible.”
He said , sources of trans fatty acids come from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils which are found in margarine’s, shortenings, cakes, pies, and cookies (especially with frosting), candies (especially with creamy fillings), crackers, snack foods, microwave popcorn (buttered and flavoured varieties), frozen pizzas, frozen biscuits, pastries, muffins, doughnuts (especially frosted or cream-filled), breaded and fried chicken and fish, fried fast foods. Also, the practice of recycling oils for frying leads to TFAs.”
He therefore said, “However, there are alternatives to the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable fats in diets. One of the healthiest alternatives to using saturated or partially hydrogenated fats is the use of natural unsaturated liquid vegetable oils such as olive, canola, corn, or soy oils. They contain high levels of monounsaturated Fats. “They are not subjected to the harmful processing steps seen in TFAs. Olive oil, especially extra virgin, is among the least processed cooking oils on the shelves which makes it retain most of its antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals”.
He stressed that it is pertinent to state that the responsible public health response to the consumption of trans fatty acids, is “public health awareness on the adverse effects of trans fatty acids. The use of food labels whereby consumers have a choice to read labels and decide if they want to use a product is a good step as well.
He therefore supports governments and regulating agencies efforts at reducing the consumption of trans fat. Rigorous public health awareness programmes at Primary, Secondary and Tertiary health centres should be encouraged, “While individuals should be cautious and avoid to the barest minimum the consumption of TFAs in their diets, it is established that such TFAs have health hazards. The use of alternatives as elaborated in this piece is advisable just like maintaining good cooking habits is”, he said.
The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
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