A guest lecture was organized by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Science, MRIU for graduate and postgraduate students of Nutrition and Dietetics and Physiotherapy, on 3rd February, 2017 in which the resource person Dr. Sujata Pandit, delivered a talk on ‘Contaminants of Food Grains and their effect on Human Health’.

Dr. Sujata Pandit is presently working with FICCI Research and Analysis Centre as Head (R&D) which is DSIR (Department of Scientific Industrial Research) recognized Research and Development Department. Apart from this she bears the responsibility of Programme In charge/ Co-coordinator for   IGNOU Study Center at FICCI Research and Analysis Centre for Post Graduate Diploma in Food Safety and Quality management, M.Sc. (Dietetics and Food Service Management) and Post Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Sciences.

While delivering her lan Expert lecture, she explained to students about factors associated with food poisoning outbreaks, food borne diseases, food poisoning due to microbes, food borne infections and intoxications. The students were informed about Salmonellosis, common food poisoning serotypes, biotoxicants which may be tissues of certain plants. Metabolic byproducts may also serve as food poisoning serotypes. She emphasized on Intoxication which occurs by various sources like bacterial, fungal, chemical and plant. She also explained to the students about food intoxication caused by Argemone seeds, Khesri Dal, Aflatoxins which causes Aflatoxicosis. The students were also told about the detection limits of pesticides, restricted pesticides, biotoxications, toxic fishes, etc. She discussed the preventive measures for combating these infections and intoxications at home level. She explained the concept of Clean, Cook, Separate and Chill.

Analytical methods for determination of pesticides and intoxicants were also discussed. It was a very interactive and interesting session for the students. Dr. Pratibha Singh, HOD, Nutrition and Dietetics felicitated the Expert Speaker.