Re: Coca-Cola and Pepsi 'contain traces of alcohol' - Metro UK reports
Colas in UAE comply with required standards Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority
Research in France that Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained traces of alcohol had raised concerns
Dubai: Research by a French institute that Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain traces of alcohol has raised concerns about health and consumer issues worldwide.
Effect on residents, patients
Speaking to
Gulf News, Dr Hatem Soliman, Specialist Critical Care Medicine at Al Zahra Private Hospital, Sharjah, said that if the research is evidence-based and without bias, the compounds in the colas with traces of alcohol will affect residents, especially patients.
The concentration of alcohol, although very scanty, may interact with a few medications either increasing or decreasing the effect of drugs taken like blood thinners, and a few antibiotics which may alter the drug regimen and its effects. Moreover, the health hazards of these sugary beverages impact the heath of diabetic patients, and even in healthy people who are predisposed to obesity and osteoporosis among other conditions, he said. Gulf News spoke to professionals in the health and fitness industry to gauge the impact of such finding.
Allergies
Hussain Al Beshbeshy, Marketing Manager at Body Balancers, a wellbeing, sports and physiotherapy centre in Dubai, said that clear labelling of ingredients is necessary as a preventive measure. A person with food allergies, for example, should be made aware that a product could contain traces ingredients that could cause a reaction.
Alcohol is toxic; the label should mention that the cola contains alcohol, specifying the percentage. So if a person knows he has a medical condition, he can make an informed decision, he said.
Phill Robson, a sports and fitness consultant and founder of Phill Robson Sports and Fitness Academy in Dubai, said that most people probably wont be affected by trace amounts of alcohol. However, the worry lies in the harmful effects of colas in general. People on weight-loss programmes tend to drink diet colas, he explained. These are harmful due to the sugar substitutes like aspartame that can cause metabolic issues. Colas are harmful anyway whether they contain alcohol or not, he said.
Take charge of your health
Jacques Caluw Sr, a physiotherapist who treats and coaches top athletes, and author of Consciously working with your body, said if the research is true, it proves how big companies make money without considering the health of the consumer. Think about the billions of children consuming colas without awareness and are hooked on it. People should be conscious about their health and take charge of it, he said.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/h...ds-abu-dhabi-food-control-authority-1.1041829
Comments:
Agreeing with SrK, Abu Dhabi. Such a detailed and comprehensive article but not a single mention of the fact that Alcohol is forbidden in Islam and even trace amounts of it would deter its sales in Islamic countries. Such an elephant in the room and we are talking about health and dietery concerns. I drink cola twice a day but this news has made me think otherwise. I would like to request UAE government to investigate the matter and help us put our fears and concerns to rest. Thank you.
Basil, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Such a detailed article and not a single mention of the fact that in an Islamic country, because of these colas, alcohol is being consumed by everyone including children which is totally forbidden for all Muslims. Even in the tiniest of amounts!
SrK, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
