People having mental issues have increased in past 10 years: Minister K Sudhakar
Bengaluru, Dec 9: Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday said the number of people having mental issues has increased in the past 10 years.
Speaking at the Brain Health Initiative programme organised at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS), he said, "A person can be considered completely healthy only if his/her mental health is also good. The number of people suffering from neurological and mental health issues is increasing since the past 10 years," Sudhakar, who himself is a medical professional, said.
"According to statistics, about seven to eight per cent of deaths are due to mental health and brain related issues," the Minister told the gathering.
The fluctuation in mental health of a person creates problems not only to his physical health but also the society at large, he explained.
Sudhakar informed the audience that the Government of India is conducting a national campaign on mental illness through the T-MANAS Tele-counseling platform.
The T-Manas platform launched by the Central government was based on the E-Manas platform started by Karnataka earlier, he added.
The State government is already doing a pilot project in Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bengaluru Rural districts with the help of NIMHANS, Sudhakar said adding that a plan has been made to make this service available in all parts of the state in the coming days.
The Primary Health Centre doctors are given three months training in counselling and treating mental health issues. In the coming days, auxiliary nurses and midwives, community health officers and ASHA workers will also be trained to counsel and treat those in distress, Sudhakar said.
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Eggs safe for consumption, cancer risk claims unfounded: FSSAI
New Delhi (PTI): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically dismissed recent claims linking eggs to cancer risk, terming them "misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm".
In a statement issued on Saturday, the food safety regulator clarified that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that reports alleging the presence of carcinogenic substances in eggs lack a scientific basis.
The clarification comes in response to media reports and social media posts claiming detection of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ) -- substances purportedly linked to cancer -- in eggs sold in India.
FSSAI officials emphasised that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
The regulator explained that an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 µg/kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites -- but solely for regulatory enforcement purposes. This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for use.
"Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk," an FSSAI official said.
FSSAI said India's regulatory framework is aligned with international practices. The European Union and the United States also prohibit the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals and employ reference points for action or guideline values only as enforcement tools.
Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches, not differences in consumer safety standards, the authority noted.
On public health concerns, FSSAI cited scientific evidence indicating that there is no established causal link between trace-level dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health outcomes in humans.
"No national or international health authority has associated normal egg consumption with increased cancer risk," the regulator reiterated.
Addressing reports related to the testing of a specific egg brand, officials explained that such detections are isolated and batch-specific, often arising from inadvertent contamination or feed-related factors, and are not representative of the overall egg supply chain in the country.
"Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect," the statement said.
FSSAI urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories, reiterating that eggs remain a safe, nutritious, and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulations.
