Aparna Shivapura lists out the dangers of refined packaged oils and its harmful effects on health.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you know there is a low-ebbed yet, powerful movement working tirelessly to change some of our lifestyle habits, which are passively, and significantly affecting our health and fitness? A movement that is a much-needed event to ensure we make paradigm shifts in our approach to consumerism.
This movement is towards a complete transformation in the way edible and essential oils are extracted. With this bold step, the age-old Wood-pressed method of oil extraction is back, and it is called the Ghana method of natural seed/oil extraction.
This is also a commitment towards a global and ethical means for edible, essential oils, but also an endeavor to ensure people get a seamless and trusted access to nutrient, rich and healthy oils for daily consumption.
A ‘pure’ form of extraction
An interesting reference and emerging brands in this space is the flagship brand TAILA, from SAPTHAM which combines history and tradition, even as the oil extraction and processing method goes back to the 13th Century called as the Ghana Method of Oil Processing. A traditional method of oil processing, this involves the use of oil extraction using wood from Albizia Lebbeck trees.
Twenty kgs of pure groundnuts are put into the wood-pressers, extracting about 7 – 8 liters of oil, with absolutely no additives, colors, flavors or chemicals. Twenty kgs of dry coconut generates about 40 – 45% pure coconut oil. The oils are collected in steel containers, also coming from a conscious decision to stay away from plastic usage. The dust emanating from the first crushed oils also need to settle to filter out the dust-free oil. Different types of containers are placed for each of these processes.
Inspiration to Innovate and Re-create
Today, some connoisseurs and new-age thinkers are trying to bring people close to an uncomfortable truth. Generations of people are consuming packaged oils, unaware of the methods in penetration of adulteration, contamination and impurities in the edible oils space.
It is established, with recent research studies, reports and emergence of ‘pure’ oils that people are consuming the most adulterated forms of edible oils, irrespective of bringing home the most popular brands. It is time to change the game, it is necessary to bring people close to the concept of natural extraction, while also opening the eyes to the alarming levels of contamination we consume in our daily foods!
Manohar Iyer talks of innumerable oils extracted from natural seeds that are proven to be good for health. One type of oil being produced and gaining popularity is from Niger seeds also called locally as uchellu. In the process, he has taken on a personal mission to familiarize next-gen and the millennials on the different types of traditional oils like uchellu, castor and mustard oils. “A generation which has grown up seeing, consuming only packaged refined oils has no idea about traditional oils at all,” he quips.
Harmful preservatives, anti-foaming agents, coloring agents are all packaged into the deceptively-good looking oil packages, we bring home every month! As regular consumers of edible oils, we have to be aware and cognizant of oils that have to be extracted and packaged without the RBD process.
The RBD, or the rinsing-bleaching-deodorizing process is part of the packaging process and is extremely dangerous for human consumption! A safe and healthy alternative is pure and toxic-free coconut or groundnut oils for daily consumption.
All Yellow is not-GOLD!
A deeper analysis shows edible and essential oils are amongst the most easily adulterated products in the market. The most hygienic, safe edible oils are the age-old wood-pressed oils and this knowledge, has to be disseminated to all consumers, without losing time. It is interesting to know that natural oils have to, ideally, be extracted in room temperature, under 40 degrees making it absolutely safe for human consumption.
SAPTHAM is one such brand which took this up as a mission, a commitment to changing the game. A mission, which has set him on a journey unfolding itself in ways he did not even imagine. Manohar is now spending sleepless nights understanding the food industry and levels of adulteration/contamination. He believes that SAPTHAM will naturally unfold many whole foods that have to be produced, and delivered to homes, in its absolute hygienic and natural form.
The ideal way of production, extraction is when all raw materials are sourced from well-bred seeds. They are untouched by hands, and collected/stored in hygienic environments. The oils are not bleached, not refined and collected in 100% natural forms. They are ethically sourced, produced, packed and supplied. Each and every product is clinically tested and approved before released to market or retailing. Above all, the nutrients and vitamins are retained in the best possible levels!
Plastic-free production, packaging and distribution
A natural outcome of this journey, Manohar firmly advocates a no-plastic philosophy. Across his industry, in his outlets and all his team members follow a no-plastic policy. All utilitarian elements on the shop-floor are either glass or steel. Almond and walnut oils to be used for new-born babies are packaged in small, attractive 20-ml glass bottles. This is a conscious endeavor to make the ecosystem more sustainable, and bio-degradable!
As we all know, less consumption of plastic means less exposure to carbon dioxide. It is established that long-term and continual use of plastic increases the risk of terminal illnesses among humans, poses a threat and endangers animals, contaminates our water, air and food!
While many manufacturing units are struggling to find replacements for plastic, SAPTHAM has led the way in making a plastic-free zone. Enter his manufacturing unit and one gets to breathe aromas and fragrances from the choicest of oils!
AN INFORMED CONSUMER, AN ENLIGHTENED CONSUMER
A visit to the Saptham outlets and others like them, is not only an eye-opener into the importance of consuming safe edible oils, it is also a reminder of how the Indian consumer has mindlessly adapted to packaged products that have only risked health and wellness, for people across ages!
It is recommended for adults and children alike to not only bring home these products, but experience and understand the difference and importance of consuming wood-pressed oils, products without adulteration, different type of oils, their advantages and health benefits and the importance of using them, daily! It can also be a well-spent family activity!
Another direct benefit, and positive impact of consuming such oils is to the farming community. The farmers get directly benefited by the sale of their products, which are raw materials for this industry. A single act of a conscious and informed decision by a consumer can add significant value to the other end of the ecosystem. It is important that the farmers get a premium price, and not a discounted price for growing such healthy crops. This would also encourage the entire farming community and help them grow in the long-run.
Healthy seeds, healthy raw material is used in this method of oil extraction. As an example, for cold-pressed coconut oils, the whole coconut piece is first shelled, put through a 48-hour sedimentation process and then, put through the churning process. For groundnut oils, the first-grade groundnuts are collected, assorted and hand-cleaned before putting into the Ghana. This ensures 100% natural extraction with all nutrients in-tact!
MODERN OIL EXTRACTION METHODS & BY-PRODUCTS
If you have lived in rural India, if you have heard tales about normal life in rural India, you would know that consuming edible oils from the ghana or the wood-pressed methods, was the only way to having it! Over time, with extreme mechanization and automation, this tradition waned and almost was on its last steps to extinction!
A few connoisseurs have saved the day for these traditions and it has also lifted the veil on many aspects, simultaneously – on the gifts of health, on the levels of contamination and on the importance of using traditional, native and organic methods in our lives!
95% consumers even today, consume packaged oils and on the rather bleak side are far from taking their step towards holistic foods and wellness. As an illustration, to extract one liter of consumable groundnut oil, one needs at least 3 – 4kgs of good quality groundnuts. However, in most outlets, the cost of 1 kg groundnut and 1liter groundnut oil is usually the same! Mathematically and ethically, somehow, this does not render a feeling that all is well!
In the modern solvent method of extraction, one can get a higher yield of oil. A method where a solvent is blended with the raw material to enhance its extraction value, using a distillation process. A method of diluting quality, contaminating it with harmful products, chemicals is almost standardized and mechanized, as Manohar understands.
Solvent extracted methods for edible and essential oils is a new-age method, which primarily uses Hexane, as it can enable easy & higher quantity of oil recovery, narrow boiling point and excellent solubilizing abilities. It is almost a universally accepted chemical solvent, if used in safe permissible limits. The seeds are dissolved in this solvent, and results in higher oil extraction, and it is mandated that the solvent contents are to be removed before final packaging. The commercial objective of this is to provide higher yield of oils for the consumer.
Reports and studies have shown that manufacturers use residual contents from petrochemicals to these edible oils in the packaging processes. Of course, as one would now know it, these definitely have carcinogenic and other harmful contents, with the potential of causing fatal illnesses – including cancer, diabetes, kidney and renal failure, cardio-vascular diseases, skin diseases and more! Also, another big health crises are emerging amongst new born and children under 14. This can be directly linked with adulterated food, poisonous foods that we have been consuming over generations.
1985 – 1990 heralded the arrival of palm oils from Malaysia to India and was the first nail to the coffin of traditional oil-generating methods. 46 – 47% industrial production of seeds have deteriorated over the last three decades. The seeds and the crop failed to fetch the desired prices and therefore declined sharply. A reduction in the seed production naturally gave rise to high demand and led to imports and the results are there to see.
While all methods are not harmful, there are definitely some players who use paraffin, white oil or mineral oil and branding them as edible oils. Mineral oil is banned in Europe and should be banned here too. Unfortunately, many leading cosmetic companies, skin care, lip care, hair care and beauty products are using mineral oils in their ingredients. This is highly harmful! A thorough investigation would make a good first step towards enlightening our consumer fraternity, instead of a half-hearted approach by a few mindful citizens!
SAPTHAM TAILA – PURE, AESTHETIC & COMPASSIONATE
Saptham Taila, took birth in 2018 and is amongst those path-breaking brands, companies whose leader thought it his ethical mandate, his moral calling to ensure that the most commonly used product, that the highest consumed product is consumed safely and nutritionally.
That led his entrepreneurship initiative towards instilling wooden-ghanas. SAPTHAM TAILA produces over 16 types of oils, and today caters to various requirements from food to cosmetic, health to nutrition. Each product line is today building its unique customer base as it solves specific problems and addresses specific needs for everybody.
The philosophy is around extracting oils in its most natural, un-contaminated, nutrient-embedded forms and of course, in the most hygienic methods. While there are many other players trying their hand at wooden-pressed methods or bull-driven methods, Manohar is strictly against animal cruelty and hence, has resorted to the ghanas. I can happily say, the brand is pure, safe, aesthetic and also compassionate.
And the store is deliberately planned to have its outlet right in the city center. Manohar firmly believes that this was a conscious decision he took to ensure that the brand, its purpose and vision are clearly articulated and understood by a larger number of customers. “Administrative, legislative, judiciary and the media can surely play a great role in initiating a change in the food and consumer industry, he says.”
Transparency is one of the hallmarks of this brand. Not only the city folk but youngsters, all age groups of people need to understand this process and the importance of consuming such oils. His focus is on strengthening his existing customers and also have new buyers, essentially to ensure that they have access to good and hygienic food!
CHALLENGES TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION
While the future for organically and naturally produced oils is bright and encouraging, there are some challenging realities too. This particular method of oil extraction is definitely cost and capital intensive. Acquiring the machines is only one aspect of the costs, there are other cost-intensive factors that is needed to run the set up and it will take a long time to be profitable. There are other issues like machine wear and tear, maintenance and so on!
Reports indicate that Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have higher ghana-units that Karnataka. As a personal endeavor, passion and vision to see this successful, Saptham Taila CEO and Founder, Manohar Iyer provides free training and guidance for many farmers, youth who are coming forward to take this tradition ahead, across Karnataka. In his own words, “this is not for the weak-hearted and weak-pocketed.” However, government encourages entrepreneurs with collateral-free loans and therefore, there is hope.
NEXT-GEN CONSUMERISM
Manohar and other new-age entrepreneurs like him, envision a new experiential phase in consumerism, where people buy products more and more consciously and with ethics as a value, at the forefront of the decision. A transparent method of manufacturing processes, where companies can put up their production methods, for people to experience and then buy, should be the mandate. Every consumer who buys, who is likely to buy is eligible and has a right to know how it is made!
Every consumer has to benchmark the product on the shelf not only for its good looks, or false promises but for real value for money, for wellness, for nutrition and safety, for being cruelty-free, and no negative health impacts. These and more should be the guiding force behind every product that is placed and bought off-the-racks! Beauty and health are really skin-deep.
With AI, Cloud and new-age technologies, this should actually be easily doable, in my opinion. The movement is not only that we consume safe products, hygienic products, cruelty-free products, but also products that are sustainable, that are bio-degradable, and we consciously give back holistic wellness to planet Earth.
This is not only about healthy food, this is, as I said, about something larger, meaningful and valuable for the current and next-gen. This is not only going to transform the products we use; this is going to change how we CHOOSE. How we choose to live will eventually determine how we contribute to larger goodness and of course, preserve the environment. Make that CHOICE, here and now.
Aparna Shivapura lists out the dangers of refined packaged oils and its harmful effects on health.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you know there is a low-ebbed yet, powerful movement working tirelessly to change some of our lifestyle habits, which are passively, and significantly affecting our health and fitness? A movement that is a much-needed event to ensure we make paradigm shifts in our approach to consumerism.
This movement is towards a complete transformation in the way edible and essential oils are extracted. With this bold step, the age-old Wood-pressed method of oil extraction is back, and it is called the Ghana method of natural seed/oil extraction.
This is also a commitment towards a global and ethical means for edible, essential oils, but also an endeavor to ensure people get a seamless and trusted access to nutrient, rich and healthy oils for daily consumption.
A ‘pure’ form of extraction
An interesting reference and emerging brands in this space is the flagship brand TAILA, from SAPTHAM which combines history and tradition, even as the oil extraction and processing method goes back to the 13th Century called as the Ghana Method of Oil Processing. A traditional method of oil processing, this involves the use of oil extraction using wood from Albizia Lebbeck trees.
Twenty kgs of pure groundnuts are put into the wood-pressers, extracting about 7 – 8 liters of oil, with absolutely no additives, colors, flavors or chemicals. Twenty kgs of dry coconut generates about 40 – 45% pure coconut oil. The oils are collected in steel containers, also coming from a conscious decision to stay away from plastic usage. The dust emanating from the first crushed oils also need to settle to filter out the dust-free oil. Different types of containers are placed for each of these processes.
Inspiration to Innovate and Re-create
Today, some connoisseurs and new-age thinkers are trying to bring people close to an uncomfortable truth. Generations of people are consuming packaged oils, unaware of the methods in penetration of adulteration, contamination and impurities in the edible oils space.
It is established, with recent research studies, reports and emergence of ‘pure’ oils that people are consuming the most adulterated forms of edible oils, irrespective of bringing home the most popular brands. It is time to change the game, it is necessary to bring people close to the concept of natural extraction, while also opening the eyes to the alarming levels of contamination we consume in our daily foods!
Manohar Iyer talks of innumerable oils extracted from natural seeds that are proven to be good for health. One type of oil being produced and gaining popularity is from Niger seeds also called locally as uchellu. In the process, he has taken on a personal mission to familiarize next-gen and the millennials on the different types of traditional oils like uchellu, castor and mustard oils. “A generation which has grown up seeing, consuming only packaged refined oils has no idea about traditional oils at all,” he quips.
Harmful preservatives, anti-foaming agents, coloring agents are all packaged into the deceptively-good looking oil packages, we bring home every month! As regular consumers of edible oils, we have to be aware and cognizant of oils that have to be extracted and packaged without the RBD process.
The RBD, or the rinsing-bleaching-deodorizing process is part of the packaging process and is extremely dangerous for human consumption! A safe and healthy alternative is pure and toxic-free coconut or groundnut oils for daily consumption.
All Yellow is not-GOLD!
A deeper analysis shows edible and essential oils are amongst the most easily adulterated products in the market. The most hygienic, safe edible oils are the age-old wood-pressed oils and this knowledge, has to be disseminated to all consumers, without losing time. It is interesting to know that natural oils have to, ideally, be extracted in room temperature, under 40 degrees making it absolutely safe for human consumption.
SAPTHAM is one such brand which took this up as a mission, a commitment to changing the game. A mission, which has set him on a journey unfolding itself in ways he did not even imagine. Manohar is now spending sleepless nights understanding the food industry and levels of adulteration/contamination. He believes that SAPTHAM will naturally unfold many whole foods that have to be produced, and delivered to homes, in its absolute hygienic and natural form.
The ideal way of production, extraction is when all raw materials are sourced from well-bred seeds. They are untouched by hands, and collected/stored in hygienic environments. The oils are not bleached, not refined and collected in 100% natural forms. They are ethically sourced, produced, packed and supplied. Each and every product is clinically tested and approved before released to market or retailing. Above all, the nutrients and vitamins are retained in the best possible levels!
Plastic-free production, packaging and distribution
A natural outcome of this journey, Manohar firmly advocates a no-plastic philosophy. Across his industry, in his outlets and all his team members follow a no-plastic policy. All utilitarian elements on the shop-floor are either glass or steel. Almond and walnut oils to be used for new-born babies are packaged in small, attractive 20-ml glass bottles. This is a conscious endeavor to make the ecosystem more sustainable, and bio-degradable!
As we all know, less consumption of plastic means less exposure to carbon dioxide. It is established that long-term and continual use of plastic increases the risk of terminal illnesses among humans, poses a threat and endangers animals, contaminates our water, air and food!
While many manufacturing units are struggling to find replacements for plastic, SAPTHAM has led the way in making a plastic-free zone. Enter his manufacturing unit and one gets to breathe aromas and fragrances from the choicest of oils!
AN INFORMED CONSUMER, AN ENLIGHTENED CONSUMER
A visit to the Saptham outlets and others like them, is not only an eye-opener into the importance of consuming safe edible oils, it is also a reminder of how the Indian consumer has mindlessly adapted to packaged products that have only risked health and wellness, for people across ages!
It is recommended for adults and children alike to not only bring home these products, but experience and understand the difference and importance of consuming wood-pressed oils, products without adulteration, different type of oils, their advantages and health benefits and the importance of using them, daily! It can also be a well-spent family activity!
Another direct benefit, and positive impact of consuming such oils is to the farming community. The farmers get directly benefited by the sale of their products, which are raw materials for this industry. A single act of a conscious and informed decision by a consumer can add significant value to the other end of the ecosystem. It is important that the farmers get a premium price, and not a discounted price for growing such healthy crops. This would also encourage the entire farming community and help them grow in the long-run.
Healthy seeds, healthy raw material is used in this method of oil extraction. As an example, for cold-pressed coconut oils, the whole coconut piece is first shelled, put through a 48-hour sedimentation process and then, put through the churning process. For groundnut oils, the first-grade groundnuts are collected, assorted and hand-cleaned before putting into the Ghana. This ensures 100% natural extraction with all nutrients in-tact!
MODERN OIL EXTRACTION METHODS & BY-PRODUCTS
If you have lived in rural India, if you have heard tales about normal life in rural India, you would know that consuming edible oils from the ghana or the wood-pressed methods, was the only way to having it! Over time, with extreme mechanization and automation, this tradition waned and almost was on its last steps to extinction!
A few connoisseurs have saved the day for these traditions and it has also lifted the veil on many aspects, simultaneously – on the gifts of health, on the levels of contamination and on the importance of using traditional, native and organic methods in our lives!
95% consumers even today, consume packaged oils and on the rather bleak side are far from taking their step towards holistic foods and wellness. As an illustration, to extract one liter of consumable groundnut oil, one needs at least 3 – 4kgs of good quality groundnuts. However, in most outlets, the cost of 1 kg groundnut and 1liter groundnut oil is usually the same! Mathematically and ethically, somehow, this does not render a feeling that all is well!
In the modern solvent method of extraction, one can get a higher yield of oil. A method where a solvent is blended with the raw material to enhance its extraction value, using a distillation process. A method of diluting quality, contaminating it with harmful products, chemicals is almost standardized and mechanized, as Manohar understands.
Solvent extracted methods for edible and essential oils is a new-age method, which primarily uses Hexane, as it can enable easy & higher quantity of oil recovery, narrow boiling point and excellent solubilizing abilities. It is almost a universally accepted chemical solvent, if used in safe permissible limits. The seeds are dissolved in this solvent, and results in higher oil extraction, and it is mandated that the solvent contents are to be removed before final packaging. The commercial objective of this is to provide higher yield of oils for the consumer.
Reports and studies have shown that manufacturers use residual contents from petrochemicals to these edible oils in the packaging processes. Of course, as one would now know it, these definitely have carcinogenic and other harmful contents, with the potential of causing fatal illnesses – including cancer, diabetes, kidney and renal failure, cardio-vascular diseases, skin diseases and more! Also, another big health crises are emerging amongst new born and children under 14. This can be directly linked with adulterated food, poisonous foods that we have been consuming over generations.
1985 – 1990 heralded the arrival of palm oils from Malaysia to India and was the first nail to the coffin of traditional oil-generating methods. 46 – 47% industrial production of seeds have deteriorated over the last three decades. The seeds and the crop failed to fetch the desired prices and therefore declined sharply. A reduction in the seed production naturally gave rise to high demand and led to imports and the results are there to see.
While all methods are not harmful, there are definitely some players who use paraffin, white oil or mineral oil and branding them as edible oils. Mineral oil is banned in Europe and should be banned here too. Unfortunately, many leading cosmetic companies, skin care, lip care, hair care and beauty products are using mineral oils in their ingredients. This is highly harmful! A thorough investigation would make a good first step towards enlightening our consumer fraternity, instead of a half-hearted approach by a few mindful citizens!
SAPTHAM TAILA – PURE, AESTHETIC & COMPASSIONATE
Saptham Taila, took birth in 2018 and is amongst those path-breaking brands, companies whose leader thought it his ethical mandate, his moral calling to ensure that the most commonly used product, that the highest consumed product is consumed safely and nutritionally.
That led his entrepreneurship initiative towards instilling wooden-ghanas. SAPTHAM TAILA produces over 16 types of oils, and today caters to various requirements from food to cosmetic, health to nutrition. Each product line is today building its unique customer base as it solves specific problems and addresses specific needs for everybody.
The philosophy is around extracting oils in its most natural, un-contaminated, nutrient-embedded forms and of course, in the most hygienic methods. While there are many other players trying their hand at wooden-pressed methods or bull-driven methods, Manohar is strictly against animal cruelty and hence, has resorted to the ghanas. I can happily say, the brand is pure, safe, aesthetic and also compassionate.
And the store is deliberately planned to have its outlet right in the city center. Manohar firmly believes that this was a conscious decision he took to ensure that the brand, its purpose and vision are clearly articulated and understood by a larger number of customers. “Administrative, legislative, judiciary and the media can surely play a great role in initiating a change in the food and consumer industry, he says.”
Transparency is one of the hallmarks of this brand. Not only the city folk but youngsters, all age groups of people need to understand this process and the importance of consuming such oils. His focus is on strengthening his existing customers and also have new buyers, essentially to ensure that they have access to good and hygienic food!
CHALLENGES TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION
While the future for organically and naturally produced oils is bright and encouraging, there are some challenging realities too. This particular method of oil extraction is definitely cost and capital intensive. Acquiring the machines is only one aspect of the costs, there are other cost-intensive factors that is needed to run the set up and it will take a long time to be profitable. There are other issues like machine wear and tear, maintenance and so on!
Reports indicate that Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have higher ghana-units that Karnataka. As a personal endeavor, passion and vision to see this successful, Saptham Taila CEO and Founder, Manohar Iyer provides free training and guidance for many farmers, youth who are coming forward to take this tradition ahead, across Karnataka. In his own words, “this is not for the weak-hearted and weak-pocketed.” However, government encourages entrepreneurs with collateral-free loans and therefore, there is hope.
NEXT-GEN CONSUMERISM
Manohar and other new-age entrepreneurs like him, envision a new experiential phase in consumerism, where people buy products more and more consciously and with ethics as a value, at the forefront of the decision. A transparent method of manufacturing processes, where companies can put up their production methods, for people to experience and then buy, should be the mandate. Every consumer who buys, who is likely to buy is eligible and has a right to know how it is made!
Every consumer has to benchmark the product on the shelf not only for its good looks, or false promises but for real value for money, for wellness, for nutrition and safety, for being cruelty-free, and no negative health impacts. These and more should be the guiding force behind every product that is placed and bought off-the-racks! Beauty and health are really skin-deep.
With AI, Cloud and new-age technologies, this should actually be easily doable, in my opinion. The movement is not only that we consume safe products, hygienic products, cruelty-free products, but also products that are sustainable, that are bio-degradable, and we consciously give back holistic wellness to planet Earth.
This is not only about healthy food, this is, as I said, about something larger, meaningful and valuable for the current and next-gen. This is not only going to transform the products we use; this is going to change how we CHOOSE. How we choose to live will eventually determine how we contribute to larger goodness and of course, preserve the environment. Make that CHOICE, here and now.