5th National Convention on Health, Nutrition and Value Addition Of Indian Mustard February 5, 2003

Mustard Research & Promotion Consortium MRPC organized a one-day National Convention on 5th February, 2003 at India Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, New Delhi on Health, Nutrition and Value Addition Of Indian Mustard". Approx. 300 delegates attended the convention. The aim of the convention is to have threadbare discussion on health and nutrition aspects of indigenous mustard oil. The physicians, cardiologists, nutritionist and dieticians from India and abroad have participated in the conference and put-forth their recommendations and research outputs and came to the conclusion about superiority of mustard oil over other edible oils.

Mustard Research & Promotion Consortium MRPC organized a one-day National Convention on 5th February, 2003 at India Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, New Delhi on Health, Nutrition and Value Addition Of Indian Mustard". Approx. 300 delegates attended the convention. The aim of the convention is to have threadbare discussion on health and nutrition aspects of indigenous mustard oil. The physicians, cardiologists, nutritionist and dieticians from India and abroad have participated in the conference and put-forth their recommendations and research outputs and came to the conclusion about superiority of mustard oil over other edible oils.

Mustard Research and Promotion Consortium (MRPC) strives to serve as a catalyst for growth and development of the Rapeseed-Mustard sector in India. It is a representative body of oil producers, agricultural scientists and oil technologists which monitors and assists in modernization of farm practices and oil processing, improvement in testing method and in building consumer confidence in Indias oldest and healthiest edible oil. MRPC is devoted to the cause of protection of interests of the rapeseed-mustard farmers and small scale oil producers. The organization focuses on actively promoting this valuable indigenous product through conventions and scientific workshops and carrying out meaningful research aimed at upgrading varieties, fatty acid related studies recommending improved technologies and conducting demographic surveys and dispelling prevalent myths and misconception about mustard and its allied products.
                        
As mustard oil is the Indias own time tested edible oil and is also backbone of Indias edible oil economy. MRPC is striving its efforts to bring health experts, physicians, cardiologists, nutritionist, dieticians, mustard processors and policy makers on one platform so that they can exchange their views and their conclusive research output, which would help to popularize indigenous mustard oil and make efforts through research methodologies for its value addition.

The National Convention was inaugurated by Dr N K Ganguly, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi. Dr Narinder K Saini, Medical Director, Heart Disease Prevention Clinic, Ohio, USA delivered the keynote address. In his address, he said that we have changed our diet from ghee and mustard based oil to the refined oil based diet, thinking that refined oil which is nice and clear does not smell bad is better for our health. As a matter of fact, this was exactly what we were told, without really knowing that this change of oil base is actually a Killer for us. Shri S K Batra, Sr. Processing Technologist, Technology Mission on Oilseeds, Pulses & Maize, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, while delivering the conference theme said that Technology Mission on Oilseed Pulses & Maize (TMOP&M) has taken initiative to include mustard processing sector under its ambit for modernization purpose.

During the technical session, Prof S C Manchanda, Former Professor & Head, Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi have spoken about the Lifestyle and heart disease in Indians by saying that diet has close relation to several disease like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia (increased cholesterol) which all are risk factors for CHD. Increased fat consumption especially from fast food causes obesity. High intake of cholesterol (found only in animal products like egg, meat and milk) and saturated fats (found in butter, ghee, milk, cream and coconut oil) increased blood cholesterol which are harmful for heart. An oil with low saturated fats, high monounsaturated fats and n-3 polyunsaturated fats like mustard/rapeseed is considered good for heart.

Prof Rakesh Tandon, Former Professor & Head, Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi had expressed his views and concluded that Mustard oil is an ideal oil.

Dr Madhulika Prakash, Director & Head (Food & Agri.), Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi have stated about the standards and different grades of mustard oil and she further added that mustard seed and mustard oil are more of ethnic foods, it is important to meet quality requirements so that the consumer gets a pure and quality product.
                        

Senior Promoter of 'P Mark Mustard Oil Mr Vivek Puri stated that after having associated with Mustard Research and Promotion Consortium and its various panelists, we have realized that mustard crop and its derivatives has huge export and domestic potential in various disciplines like pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobile industry, lubrication industry etc. which remains largely untapped by the enterprises. This needs to be seriously explored, since India is one of the largest producer of mustard seed in the world. Also after hearing the views of eminent cardiologist from all over the world, we are convinced of the nutritional superiority of Kachhi ghani mustard oil over all other oils. We are very happy with the kind of promotion MRPC is doing in exploding myths and bring out true facts about mustard which is going to be beneficial to all the segments of the society which are connected with mustard.

Conclusively, Dr Ghafoorunissa, Dy.Director (Sr.Gr.), National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad recommended that mustard oil is the ultimate edible oil amongst all edible oils as it has right blend of n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid and good amount of mono-unsaturated fatty acid which helps in reducing LDL (bad cholesterol). It also has very low amount of saturated fatty acid (Saturated Fatty Acid increases bad cholesterol).

Prof. D K Bhattacharyya, Chemical Technology Department, Kolkata University, Kolkata, expressed his views over value addition of mustard oil by saying that Extraction of different fatty acid from mustard oil amongst them erucic acid which is found in the range of 42-55% in Indian mustard can be utilized for various eco-friendly industrial applications, which is one of the biggest value addition in Indian mustard.

Dr Mayaram Unniyal, Director (R&D) Maharishi Ayurvedic products Ltd. Noida, briefed about the medicinal properties of mustard oil. He further added that the time tested indigenous mustard seeds and mustard oil can be used in ayurvedic system of medicines. Presently, it is being used for treating various ailments in the form of mustard plasters and as massage oil but the medicinal properties of mustard oil needs more exploration so that this valuable indigenous product can be saved from extinction.

Prof Pratap Chakraborty, Jadavpur University, Kolkata expressed his views regarding mustard protein. He said that mustard protein is good for human consumption and can be utilized for varied food products. Mustard cake which has high percentage of protein which is good source for human consumption. This protein can be exploited for varied industrial purposes.