~*The Hypnotizing world of Nano Foods*~

In 1959,my mother was seven years old … In her school lunch box,she’d find a sandwich and a fruit. The sandwich,would be made of fresh white cheese,produced in my grandfather’s village, and home-made apple jam,that my Grandmother would have confectioned,during the apples harvest season.

In 1992,I was seven years old … In my school lunch box,I’d find a sandwich and a candy. The sandwich would be made of,cold cuts,such as ham or turkey with processed cheddar cheese . My snack ,would vary on a daily basis,ranging from salty,such as chips to sweet,such as colorful candy bars .

Today,in a seven years old kid’s school lunch box,you’d find,a bottle of orange juice that’s rich in fish oil,a club sandwich that contains,undetectable,nano-capsules of Omega-3 and a chocolate bar that cuts out the need for sugar.

It is true, that my imagination,sometimes,acts like a drug,however,today,it didn’t. Dazed,in front of the gigantesque world of nano foods,I am wondering,if my kids will ever have a school lunch box . . .

Nanotechnology is a powerful new technology,for taking apart and reconstructing nature at the atomic and molecular level.It embodies,the dream that scientists can remake the world from the atom up,using atomic level manipulation,to transform and construct a wide range of new materials,devices,living organisms and technological systems.It is responsible for determining, not only that biological and non biological structures measuring less than 100 nm exist,but also,that they have unique and novel functions application.In fact,it intends to offer,healthier food,fewer and better targeted chemicals,less waste,less packaging and the promise of a technological solution to the problem of,undernourished people in the world.

Nanotechnology,is all around you,already:a revolutionary,Vitamin B12 spray,which you simply spray inside your child’s mouth that will absorb the nano-sized vitamins directly through the mucal cells will relief you from bribing your kids to eat fruits and vegetables.Also,nano-capsules delivered chemicals in rapeseed cooking oil,will stop cholesterol entering your bloodstream. And,nano packaging with self cleaning abilities or nano-scale filters that will allow you to remove all bacteria from milk or water without boiling.There are already,fridges in Asia and America that use nano-silver to kill bacteria,and smart food packaging that will warn,when oxygen,has got inside,or if food is going off.

Every major food corporation is investing in nanotech and over the past 8 years,the government in Europe has pumped £1.7 billion in research money into the field. In fact,there are now over 300 nano food products available on the market worldwide,and many more yet to come;nano-particles,in chewing gum will carry teeth-cleaning chemicals that you won’t be able to taste.Another nano system to excite cooks,uses stable molecules to tie down volatile ones:manufactured starch such as,cyclodextrin is being used to bond those frustratingly evanescent flavors in food,like the fast fading taste of paprika.Also,Nano-encapsulated preservatives can be activated,if your chicken is going to sit in the fridge for a while.

In a world where your kid,will be drinking milk that tastes exactly like coke,you might lose trust in scientists and the industry that’s driven by profit making.Even though,this technology might be offering you solutions.What guarantees you,that those nano particles aren’t crossing your cell membranes and causing brain damage? In fact,preliminary scientific research has shown that many types of nano particles,can result in increased oxidative stress,which can result in the formation of free radicals that can lead to cancer,DNA mutation and even cell death.

What will our food and technological future look like? We are in an epic battle for control of our food supply and our health.Shall we dive back into our ancestors lifestyles,where only fresh and natural products where fashionable? Or,follow nowadays technological trends to avoid being out of step?These are the paradigms that we need to choose between.We may not want it,but scientists are halfway there .

by Dietitian Nicole Maftoum