… permitted value of Aflatoxins raised

The government has lifted the ban on providing Thriposha products for children. The ban was imposed late last year after finding Aflatoxins in one of its ingredients above permissible levels.

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena has told the Parliamentary Caucus for Children that the Ministry has given permission to restart the production of Thriposha provided to children between the ages of 06 months to 03 years.

Acting Director Communications (Parliament) Jayalath Perera quoted Dr. Gunawardena as having told the Parliamentary Caucus for Children that Thriposha would be provided to children with identified nutritional requirements. MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne chaired the meeting.

Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops such as maize (corn), peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts. Corn is one of the ingredients in Thriposha.

The production of Thriposha was suspended after tests revealed that Aflatoxin in Thriposha were above permissible levels. Initially, the government denied media reports but later confirmed higher and unacceptable levels of Aflatoxin in Thriposha. The issue has been raised in Parliament.

Aflatoxins should be less than 1 part to a billion, according to the Health Ministry. The DGHS has emphasised that the Ministry accepted and approved Aflatoxin value up to 5 in Thriposha to cater to the needs of children between the ages of 06 months to 03 years with nutritional needs.

Thriposha is provided under the Maternal and Child Health Programme implemented by the Ministry of Health as a supplementary food for children with low nutritional level from 06 months to 03 years of age and as an additional nutrient for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Officials of Lanka Thriposha told the Caucus that the company could produce another nutritional food from rice, instead of Thriposha. However, a different type of milling machine is required for that purpose, they told the grouping, while estimating the machine would cost about Rs 400 mn.

The Parliament quoted them as having claimed that they could secure Rs 200 mn through the World Food Programme if the governemnt was willing to provide the balance requirement.MP Wijeratne has assured that she would bring up the issue to the notice of the relevant officials. (SF)