On World Food Day, the University of Karachi Food Science and Technology Department scholars have dished out cuisines that can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve mental health.
Displaying their culinary achievements at the food expo on Monday, the students said their food ideas are nutritious for body and mind as well as light on the wallet.
The BS and MS Food Technology students showcased their projects at the exhibition arranged by the varsity on the World Food Day.
Enthusiastic scholars introduced their signature meals crafted after months of research and prepared from natural ingredients at low cost which will not only eliminate diseases but will also increase mental abilities.
Taking round of the stalls at the exhibition showed that many budding food scientists were focused on low cost meals with high nutrition value to defeat inflation and build a healthy nation.
A student, Aiman, told The Express Tribune that she has made sugar free plum jam which has 40% less carbohydrates and calories than the commercial jams. Plum jam, low in carbs is rich in iron, she added. She continued that people tasting her plum jam and commercially produced similar product could not tell the difference, even though she had used no sugar in her product.
"The amazing thing is that my plum jam costs 50% less than the commercial ones," a beaming Aiman said.
Another food scientist, Sana Shakeel, while talking to The Express Tribune said her team has made natural vinegar from olive oil waste.
Pakistan produces 1,500 tons of olive oil, she said explaining that the wastewater of the production process can be used to make vinegar.
Sana said she made vinegar from olives grown on farms in Sahiwal, Punjab and also from wild olives from Balochistan. "Natural olive vinegar has antioxidants which can also be used by diabetics. It is useful for improving digestion and has many health benefits."
Student Neha Bashir had displayed gluten free jelly on her stall at the exhibition. She told The Express Tribune that the starch from the corn flour was extracted and prepared in the lab and then used in the jelly. Gluten costs Rs1,400 per kg while corn flour costs Rs300 per kg. Many people are allergic to wheat so they can enjoy jelly at room temperature using corn flour. Corn in its natural form is gluten free.
Another budding food scientist, Maham Anees, using the kitchen as a research laboratory came up with the idea of date spread.
Maham and her team displayed bottles of date spread, which according to them was a healthy breakfast choice.
Chocolate spread on bread is a popular breakfast option for school going children. However, Maham said, 60% of the chocolate spread brands available in the market rely on refined sugar and oil. On the contrary, she continued, "our team used dates to make a spread that would be sugar free, as dates are naturally sweet, and help improve mental strength of growing children."
She said that sugar is harmful for children, "according to various researches, 40% of children in Pakistan are obese because their parents feed them foods rich in oil and sugar for breakfast." Instead, she said, If dates are included in daily breakfast, children will be able to lead a healthy life away from diseases.
University of Karachi Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mehmood Iraqi appreciated the students and said that students must have expertise in the field for the future. These programmes should be organised regularly so that students get awareness about food sciences and technology, he said.
Food safety lab opens at KU
Food security is the most significant issue for any country, said Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
He was addressing a seminar organized by the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Karachi on World Food Day with the theme Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.
With nearly 65% of economy dependent on agriculture, “it is imperative that we promote high-quality seeds and technologies that can help conserve and efficiently utilise water resources,” he said.
Unfortunately, despite being an agricultural country, we still import wheat and pulses, Wahab said stressing on finding ways to overcome food shortages.
“We have agricultural lands and workforce, the need is to harness these resources,” the mayor said.
Later, while inaugurating a modern food testing laboratory at the Food Science and Technology Department, Wahab said the facility was necessary to provide safe and quality food items to the citizens.
The lab has been set up by the varsity in collaboratuion with the Sindh Food Authority.
Sindh Food Authority Director Agha Fakhar Hussain, University of Karachi Vice Chancellor Dr. Khalid Iraqi, Dr Ghafran, Ms Shina Naz and Dr Rashida also addressed the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2023.
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