ALLERGY COMES IN A PACKET

“Food allergies on the rise” (April 1-15, 2014) should serve as a caution note against food- related diseases and allergies. According to the report, the cases of food allergy in India are increasing. While its causes are attributed to factors such as lifestyle and stress, one aspect that is overlooked is the consumption of packaged food. These have high levels of preservatives and additives, many of which are allergens. We often ignore the nutritional facts printed on the package. Reading them will help us better understand the pros and cons of what we consume. Also, checking the date of expiry is a must. Although packaged food is easy to cook, it has little nutritional value and is best avoided. V RAJAGOPAL rajvel44@gmail.com