KUALA LUMPUR – The Penang Hindu Association (PHA) has cautioned consumers, especially those celebrating religious festivals like Thaipusam, that some brands of milk powder found on the shelves of grocery stores and hypermarkets have non-vegetarian ingredients in them.
According to PHA president P. Murugiah, devotees who are celebrating the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam would have been observing a strict lacto-vegetarian diet in preparation for the holy day which falls on Sunday.
During this period, it is noted that the devotees’ diet includes milk-based items, including yogurt, “thayiru” (curd), and “moru” (seasoned buttermilk), apart from other greens and non-animal derived foods.
Murugiah said that the association found certain milk producers have clearly stated the inclusion of Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA in some of their milk products.
“DHA is usually an added ingredient in milk powder for infants and children. It is also found in some milk powder meant for the whole family.
“Although scientific research has indicated the health benefits of DHA to children and adults, we still believe that it is morally obliged to highlight that DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish,” he said in a statement today.
He further expressed concern that there may be other brands of milk powder that have omitted to mention the non-vegetarian ingredient or to declare if the DHA content in their products are vegetarian-based.
He said that the main reason to highlight this issue is to create awareness among the public on the importance of reading the labels on food-related items before consuming them.
“PHA requests the consumers, especially the devotees who are observing the vegetarian diet, to exercise some caution and read the labels first before consuming such food products.
“Not only that, we hope for a practice of transparency in the food manufacturing industry when it comes to informing consumers of the ingredients that have gone into the production of the food item,” he added.
Murugiah also urges all those involved in the food manufacturing industry, including producers, wholesalers, and distributors, to indicate clearly on labels if a product has non-vegetarian content.
He added that a simple print or symbol on its product indication that the product is suitable for vegetarians would suffice.
This year’s Thaipusam falls on Sunday and preparations have already begun for the public celebration after a two-year hiatus due to the lockdowns related to the Covid-19 pandemic. – The Vibes, February 2, 2023
