c


|
Of-late, sustained publicity campaign is being made by the producers of chemical sweeteners against
sugar consumption by attributing to it various health problems. This has no scientific basis at all. Sugar is
a perfectly healthy product as would be evident from the following: |

| Ô
|
ë

 0t is an infectious disease caused by the interaction of bacteria which
ë | reside in plague on the surface of the teeth with retained food
particles especially carbohydrates. Good oral hygiene is essential
which include reducing the frequency of intake of carbohydrates and
drinks as well as regular dental check-ups and using fluoridated
toothpaste when brushing teeth.|


 ë
 Scientific studies show that people who are over weight often eat less


| sugar than thin people and there is plenty of evidence to show that
carbohydrate rich diets can help suppress appetite|



 ë
 iabetes is a disorder of the body's metabolism. Many scientific


| studies show that the risk of diabetes is inversely related to
carbohydrates and sugar consumption. 0n other words, people who
develop diabetes have been found to eat less sugar than healthy
people.|


 ë
 The researchers indicate that sugar is not a cause of coronary heart
ë     
 disease. As there is no consistent and independent relationship
 ë| between intake of sucrose or other carbohydrates and incidence of
coronary heart disease.|





 | ?mpty calorie myth is really an empty complaint. Sugar is consumed
as an essential or enhancing ingredient in wide variety of nutritious
foods. Also, there is no reason for any concern as sugar consumption
does not contribute to any nutritious deficiencies in population.|

è

 |

Sugars are a major form of carbohydrates and are found probably in all green plants they occur in
significant amounts in most fruits and vegetables there are three main simple sugars sucrose, fructose,
glucose, sucrose is in fact a combination of fructose and glucose and the body quickly breaks down into
these separate substances|

  |

All energy stored in food is derived originally from the sun and it is made by green plant life. The sun's
energy acts upon the green chemical "chlorophyll" in the leaves of plants to produce sugars and Starches
from the carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere and the water from the roots by a process known as
Photosynthesis .These carbohydrates (starches and sugar) acts as a plants food and energy supply. .The
?nergy need of human body is largely dependent on the carbohydrates that are derived from plants.|


 ë
|

A balanced diet can (and should) come from a variety of different foods ,calculated to give the desired
levels of carbohydrates ,proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals .Nutritional scientists advocate that
carbohydrates should provide at least 50% of over energy requirements .|


  |

Starches provide the large part of our carbohydrate needs .The sugar which nature provides alongside
the starches in our food supply have also a very special role to play in human metabolism for primitive
man the sweet taste probably acted as a signal that the food was safe to eat .For modern man sugar is
used to improve the palatability of many foods and can thereby encourage a more varied diet.|


 
  |

Sucrose is a natural and economical sweetener .0t is the most versatile of all the sweeteners , performing
many useful functions in a range of foods - As a sweetener. - Acting as a preservative. - ?nhancing
flavour in foods . - Providing bulk and texture in ice cream, custard, baked goods and confectionary . -
Acting as a food for yeast in baking and brewing beer and cider. - Contributing to crust colour , and
flavour and delaying staleness in cakes and biscuits.|


  ë  
|

Apart from sugar being a cheapest instant source of energy ,0t has several medical & therapentical
Values some of them are as elaborated below|

  
     
 

Sugar is extremely valuable in treatment of serve infantile diarrhea, a serious problem that kills around
3.5 million children in a year in underdeveloped countries .Oral re-hydration treatment (restoring of liquids
by mouth) is used for infants with diarrhea due to cholera or re-hydrating viruses . 0t is simpler and easier
to mix sugar with salt to treat de-hydration children even in The most remote areas .Further studies prove
that oral sucrose was an effective as intravenous Treatment in retaining re-hydration|

Î 
  è


Sugar has tremendous healing power .Sugar helps in wiping out infections in all types of wounds And
speed up the healing time as well .For sugar fills up open wounds and it dissolves in tissue Where micro
organism cannot survive|

· 
 

ë  
   
Vitamin A deficiency in South American population is being combated successfully with the use of fortified
sugar .?ncouraged by the results ,fortification of sugar with vitamin A is being attempted to combat
vitamin A as well as mineral (iron ) deficiencies a major area of concern 0n some of the developing
countries|


 
 ë 

 |

Food caused health impairment scares are always and will always be a legitimate matter of concern to
consumers There is a difference between the food scare which effects one in two consumers and another
which effects one. 0n a million. 0t is important to put information in proper perspective to assess the risk
and to report accordingly .0t is equally important that the information is based on scientific evidence
.Keeping this in view we are giving hereunder. The scientific findings on various concerns expressed over
sugar consumption.|

  



 
|

The complaint about sugar is that it contributes only calories but no nutrients to the diet . "?mpty calorie"
myth is really an empty complaint. Sugar is never eaten alone 0t is almost always consumed as an
essential Or enhancing ingredient in a wide varieties of other nutritious foods .Sugar is a 100% utilizable
carbohydrate Another way to look at this issue is to ask whether there is any reason for Concern that
sugar actually contributes to any nutrient deficiencies in population .The answer is no , A recent study
concluded .There is no evidence that continuing to eat the present level of sugar will result in inadequate
micro-nutrient nutrition|

Î 
  

|

iabetes "mellitus" is a disorder of the body's metabolism .The carbohydrates which a normal person eats
are converted into glucose which is absorbed into the blood stream and is used by the body for energy
.The diabetic person cannot utilize carbohydrates efficiently .as a result blood has higher than normal
amount of glucose and it is often present in urine Though all the causes of diabetes are not known
,genetic factors play a major part in the development of this disease The question of whether sugar
consumption is related to diabetes has been exclusively examined through epidemiologic surveys and
experimental data The consensus of the scientific community is that sugar consumption is not Related to
onset of diabetes . Many studies shows that the risk of diabetes is inversely related to carbohydrates and
sugar consumption .That is people who develop diabetes have found to eat less sugar than healthy
people .These people found to eat more fat and consume more total calories than healthy people
increasing there likelihood of becoming obese and risk of developing diabetes . Once a person develops
diabetes the intake of sugar and other simple carbohydrates is usually restricted .However there is little
actual evidence to support this practice research now indicates that not all starches and sugars are alike
in there effect on blood sugar .For example carrots can produce a higher blood sugar then a candy bar
and honey has a greater effect than sucrose .?ating modest amounts of sucrose as a part of regular
meals does not leads to higher amount of blood sugar as has been commonly supposed .The dietary
recommendations of the American dietary association (AA) Are in most respect the same as non-
diabetic person and are based on sound principal of nutrition . ?ating a modest amount of sugar is
acceptable says (AA) council of nutrition as long as metabolic control is maintained .|

· 
  ë     
 ë|

The researches say that sugar is not a cause of coronary heart disease .The issue has been thoroughly
studied in recent years because of one scientist's widely publicized theory of the 1960 that heart disease
is linked to excessive sugar intake .The medical community has resoundingly rejected this theory . The
prevailing view point is reflected in one scientist's conclusion after reviewing the literature that the
evidence available does not support the view that the sugar in the level present in diabetes afflicted
persons is a causative factor in the development of (CH) The American society of clinical nutrition in
(1979) stated there is no consistent and independent relationship between intake of sucrose or other
carbohydrates and incidence of prevalence of (CH) 0n an attempt to pin down the various risk factors
involved in (CH )many studies of the lifestyle and diets of different population have been conducted .A
recent review of three major studies -the Framingham study the Honolulu heart study the Puertorico heart
health program found no association between sugar consumption and ( CH) risk the (UK) panel on diet
and cardio-vascular disease could find no evidence that sugar was specifically related to ( CH )despite a
barrage of prepublication by food activists that sugar was a major contributory factor 0t is generally agreed
that the primary diet factors involved in ( CH) are nature and amount of fat in the diet .That is why
dietary guidelines frequently called for a decrease in intake to be accompanied by an increase in
carbohydrates consumption .Although these guidelines often recommended that the increased
carbohydrate intake should take the form of complex carbohydrates .0t can include sugar .|

X 
  

|

?ating too much of anything makes you fat specially if calories are consumed if more than calories used
up. Scientific studies show that people who are over weight often eat less sugar then thin people and
there is now plenty of evidence to show that carbohydrates rich diet can help suppress appetite .One
explanation for this is that lean people have more active lifestyle which not only keep them trim but also
allow them to eat more of the foods they like and less of fats .Which contributes more than twice as many
calories as sugar ,and alcohol also almost twice as many .|

D 
    ë |

Medical community believes that this is a rare condition that has been over diagnosed in recent years
.Misinformation and the natural desire to find a physical cause for poorly defined symptoms such as
fatigue irritability and nervousness have led to the popularization of hypoglycemia as a diagnosis even
though similar symptoms may also arise due to stress in our lives . Understanding hypoglycemia is
complicated by the fact that there is no standard medical definition as to where a normal blood sugar
levels ends and low blood sugar begins .0n fact there is a vide range of blood sugar levels that can be
considered normal. Recent investigations into how the body responds to various carbohydrates indicate
no reason to suspect the sugar poses a special metabolic problem .Sugar has been found to have only a
moderate effect on blood sugar levels .Various carbohydrates sources such as carrots and potato has
been found to effect the body blood sugar more markedly than sucrose 0n a recent symposium sponsored
by the national alliance for research on schizophrenia and depression a national organization based on
(GR?AT N?CK) . N.Y a study on the relationship between sugar and stress and the brain mechanism
that control weight and appetite was presented according to this a pathway called the hypothalamo-
pituitary-adrenal axis has been identified as the main regulator of the body stress response .0t was
observed that intake of more sugar reduced the level of corticosteroid responsible for stress by almost
half.|

* 
    ë

ë|

This statement is not supported by any medical evidence according to the American medical association
hyperactivity is a complex behavioural syndrome the American council on science and health have
questioned whether or not it can be related to diet at all .The 1989 (UK) committee on medical aspect on
food policy ("COMA") concluded that sugar has no significant specific effect on behaviour or
psychological functions Research shoes that the perceived effect of sugar on children behaviour has
more to do with the influence of people around them then with any sugar containing food they are eating .|

A 
  
ë |

ental caries is an infectious disease by the interaction of bacteria which reside in plague on the surface
of the teeth with retained food particles especially carbohydrate. This acid produced erode tooth enamel
leading to the formation of cavities .For caries to develop three factors are required -a susceptible tooth
bacteria and a carbohydrate food stuff .A susceptible tooth surface which is not already decayed but
prone to develop caries .Secondly micro organisms present in the mouth which used micro organism food
to grow on the tooth surface .The ability of these micro organism to grow depends upon the frequency of
food consumption and the length of time it remained in the teeth .Many tooth which contain little or no
sucrose (but contain other fermentable carbohydrates )are capable of performing tooth decay . A primary
consideration in dietary control of dental caries must be that of frequency and form of intake . Food which
adhere to or between tooth surface may be particularly harmful Use of fluoride in drinking water is the
most efficient way to reduce incidence of caries in America .The reduction in the dental caries has been
50% to70% as a result of water fluoridation .0n 0reland apart from fluoridated water usage of fluoride tooth
paste resulted in dramatic fall in tooth decay .Good oral hygiene is obviously essential . The etilogy of
dental caries is multifactorial with oral microbial flora host factors and dietary factors being the three major
factors involved in the development of the disease .|

o ëë è
|

From time to time a number of chemical sweeteners were produced and used by the public. With
passage of time and further research, some of these had to be banned as being harmful to health. 0t took
quite some time before such conclusions could be reached. 0n the meanwhile, gullible public were
induced into consumption of such harmful chemical sweeteners. A few such instances are as follows:|

Likewise some of the recently introduced chemical sweeteners may subsequently prove to be a health
hazard since scientific research is a continuous process. Consumption of such products may thus be
beset with unknown risk which may become known later at a stage when damage may have been caused
due to their consumption over a period of time. On the other hand, sugar, whether expressed in terms of
sucrose or fructose is a natural product and is a wonderful gift of nature to the mankind. 0t has many
virtues and cannot cause health hazard unless misused. Therefore, the risk evaluation between sugar
consumption and that of chemical sweeteners must take this important factor into account.|

 ë ë 
|

Cyclamate, a cyclohexylsuphamic acid (related in its chemical structure to saccharin), 30-40 times
sweeter than sucrose, was discovered in 1944 and became popular in the mid-sixties when it was used
primarily in soft drinks along with saccharin.|

Cyclamate was banned in 1970 in the UK and the USA following some adverse toxicity results, which
indicated that it is carcinogenic in animals and causes testicular atrophy.|

However, despite its ban in the UK and USA, it is still permitted in some ?uropean countries, Australia
and New Zealand.|

 
 ëë |

Saccharin, sodium salt of ortho-sulphobenzoic acid, 300 times sweeter than sucrose, was the first artificial
sweetener to be discovered in 1879. Consumption rates increased significantly during the war time (both
1 and 00) when sugar was rationed. Use of saccharin continued to increase in the sixties and seventies
due to the rising popularity of low calorie food and drink and its low cost. Unlike sugar, saccharin has a
lingering bitter metallic after taste.|

There were fears about its safety when studies suggested that saccharin caused bladder cancer in
laboratory rats. 0ts use was banned in Canada in 1977. The US Food and rug Administration (FA)
considered banning it in 1977 based on this animal research. However, Congress placed a moratorium
on the ban to allow for more research on saccharin's safety. This moratorium has been extended seven
times due to continued consumer demand. The FA withdrew the ban in 1991, but the moratorium is still
in effect until the year 2002. The use of saccharine is permitted in the USA but the products have to
contain warning statement, "Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains
saccharin which ahs been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals".|

    ë 

  
  


 ë

ietary carbohydrates are either immediately oxidised to provide energy, stored as glycogen (an energy
reserve) or converted to fat in the liver by a process known as do novo lipogenesis. This is an
energetically expensive so carbohydrates do not contribute significantly to the fat store. There are some
concerns that as the proportion of refined carbohydrates increases in the diet, de novo lipogenesis may
contribute more than once thought to the body's fat stores. This was investigated in a group of lean and
obese people who were over fed sucrose and fructose. The study showed that although de novo
lipogenesis was increased (by 2-3 times), it did not contribute significantly to the body's overall fat
balance ± confirming our original hypothesis, that carbohydrates do not contribute greatly to the body's fat
stores. |

 Î ë 
 

  ë
è
 è 
 
 è
|
A study of dietary intake in 3000 men and women with type 1 diabetes found that those who had higher
intakes of carbohydrates, including sugars and starches, had lower body mass index and waist
circumference (WC). 0ntake or saturated fats, those found in meat and dairy products, was associated
with higher measures of body weight. These findings are constantly reproduced in studies.|

 · 


 
 
ë
  


ë|

The abstract discusses the purpose of dietary guidelines and the factors that influence their effectiveness.
0t considers that holistic approaches that are targeted to reduction in risks of dietary deficiencies, food-
borne illnesses and multiple chronic degenerative diseases are probably the most useful for the nutrition
education of the public. Guidelines also need to be updated periodically and communicated effectively.

 X è 
ëë
ëèë 

 ë
 ë     
 



Measuring WC is a simple and useful tool with which to measure abdominal obesity. As abdominal
obesity is known to increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease, WC is considered, along with
other measures, to be a good means of predicting risk of coronary heart disease. A study was carried out
to investigate this but found it only to be true in the case of younger subjects. 0n older subjects, once body
mass index was known, WC did not add to the prediction of risk of heart disease.
|

|




 ë 
   


Sugar industry is basically seasonal in nature and operates only for 120 to 200 days in a year (early
November to April). A significantly large volume of waste is generated during the manufacture of sugar
and contains a high amount of pollutional load particularly in terms of suspended solids, organic matter,
and press mud, bagasse and air pollutants. Therefore an attempt has been made to present an overview
of waste management in sugar industry in 0ndia.

è 

 è


 Mill house wastewater is derived from continuous gland cooling and intermittent floor washing
and contains high amounts of oils and grease and sugar from spills and leaks.




: Boiler blow-down is fairly clean water except that it contains high dissolved solids
and phosphates.

  : Filter cloth is periodically washed and constituents a source of wastewater.

ë : The vapours from the last effect evaporator and pan boiling are separately cooled in
barometric condensers and the condensate goes to the pond. A part of the cooled water from the pond is
recycled into the sugar mill, but a large portion is discharged as wastewater. 0f the mill operates without
overloading, the evaporator and vacuum pan condensate is quite clean and the entire quantity can be
reused. But many a times, overloading and poor operating conditions can lead to significant sugar losses
in the condensates through entrainment and thus polluting the water.

 : Leaks from pumps and pipes in the evaporators and centrifuge house,
along with periodical floor washings, constitute another source of wastewater. Although the flow is
intermittent and volume discharged is not large, it represents the most polluting fraction of sugar mill
wastewater.

ë è: ?vaporators, juice heaters, pans, etc are cleaned once in 20 days for removal
of deposited scales. Caustic soda, sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid are used for scale removal.
Normally the caustic soda washings are stored and reused for cleaning operations. However, in 0ndia,
most of the sugar mills discharge these chemicals into the drains. After the equipment is boiled with
caustic soda and rinsed with fresh water, it is cleaned with dilute hydrochloric acid using an inhibitor. The
wastewater is discharged into the drains, as the recovery of the chemicals may not prove to be
economical. 0t is seen that the wastewater has small organic load but inorganic content may be high to
pose a shock-load to wastewater treatment facility (occasional discharge, once in fortnight). 0t is
suggested to have a holding tank and mix this wastewater gradually to the final effluent to avoid shock
loading on the treatment plant. Sulphur and Lime Houses: The washings of sulphur and lime house
would contain a considerable amount of inorganic solids, which include carbonates and sulphates. The
effluents from these two units when combined would give neutral pH value of waste. This wastewater
does not contribute to organic pollution but can be characterized as inorganic wastewater.
è


 - This is the measure of the oxygen consuming capabilities of organic matter. uring
decomposition, organic effluents exert a BO that can deplete oxygen supply. BO is generally
measured and expressed in parts per million or milligrams per litre. The effluents from a raw sugar factory
can vary between hundred to several thousands mg/l.

   : This is water quality constituent. 0t is measured and expressed as parts per million or
mg/l.

 
 - Suspended solids when they settle form sludge on the stream, lakebed
and they are most damaging to the life in water. The different modes of disposal of wastes are:

‡ isposal into water bodies (River/Nallah, stream)

‡ ?vaporation in open pits

‡ isposal into ocean

‡ Press mud for fertilizer

‡ Bagasse for paper and pulp and fibre


 è

 0t is estimated that bagasse contributes to 33.3% residue of the total cane crushed. 0t has a
calorific value of about 1920 kcal/kg and is mainly used as fuel in boilers for steam generation.

 0t contains all non-sucrose impurities along with CaCO3 precipitate and sulphate. Press mud
from double sulphitation process contains valuable nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, etc,
and therefore used as fertilizer. The press mud from double carbonation process is used for land filling
and is not used as manure.

ë  

The bagasse, on burning, produces particulates, viz., unburnt fibres, carbon particles and gaseous
pollutants like oxides of nitrogen, water vapour and other organic compounds. Of the particulate waste,
the heavier particles slowly settle down in the surrounding area. Such dust fall leads to the problems of
cleaning, reduction in property value, effect on vegetation, etc. The main gaseous pollutants are CO,
which is altogether not measured by any unit, and CO2 is reported to be in the range of 12 ± 14%.


è
     

The following areas are important to economize the usage of water.

 ë è

‡ Mainly used for condenser, bearing cooling, sulphur/lime houses and crystallizer for formation of crystal

‡ 0n condenser, water gets mixed with vapour. However, adjusting pH along with make-up water to keep
dissolved solids in check can recycle it.

‡ ?vaporator cooling water contains entrained sugar and acid because of excess of SO2 and can be
recycled. 0mprovement in the designs of evaporator/pan boiler can reduce the loss. Losses will also be
due to evaporation, splashing and percolations.

‡ Keeping the temperature of incoming water between 30o and 35oC can reduce losses due to
evaporation. Splashing and percolation can be checked by proper maintainance.

‡ Cooling water for bearings, power generation, etc., can be reused safely.


  è

Sugar mill employs both hot and cold water for its various processes such as Macreation, filter cake
washing, lime preparation, dilution for lowering brix, ilution in evaporators and pans, Massecuite,
Magma making and Crystal washing in centrifugals.

‡ Water requirement before evaporator storage is about 1/5 to ¼ of steam used while that used after
evaporator requires approximately equal amounts, as for steam. Careful attention is required after
evaporator stage to control water usage.

‡ Hot water can be used in place of cold water to reduce the quantity of steam required.

‡ 0t is preferable to use 18 ± 20% maceration by equally adjusting it from the top and the bottom of
bagasse bed feeding to the last mill at a pressure of 7 ± 14 kg/cm2 rather than merely pouring the same
at 25 to 30% of cane (about 5 ± 7% water can be saved).

‡ 0f maceration is high enough, there will not be any need of dilution water for juice.

‡ To reduce water quantity, light molasses can be used for magma making.

èè Wash water may contain sugar and therefore requires treatment and should not be
recycled. Periodic cleaning results in high BO and it also contain caustic soda and weak acids.
Returning it to the service water tank can reuse water.

è This water is safe for returning it to the service water tank.

 providing suitable oil and grease traps can eliminate this.

ë The stored and settled supernatant can be reused with a little addition of fresh caustic
soda for next cleaning operation. Molasses Handling: 0t is necessary to store molasses in RCC tanks or
steel tanks above ground level. Otherwise, there is a possibility of ground water contamination. The high
BO of molasses may cause pollution problems due to mishandling.
 ë    

The by-products available from sugar mills are bagasse, furnace ash, molasses and filter mud. The uses
of these byproducts are given below. 0f all the byproducts are used for transformation into value added
products, (resource recovery), it will minimize the pollution to large extent.


These are used for steam, power, charcoal, briquettes and methane & producer gas.

  These are used for fertilizer and cattle feed.

 For fertilizer.

 For foundry material.

 

Sugar in boiler feed water causes water to foam, which will lead accidents. 0f not present in large
quantity. 0t is decomposed by heat into products that are detrimental to the tubes and shells of boilers
causing pitting and overheating. 0f sugar is present in small amounts their traces will be eventually
accumulated on the boiler tubes as a harmful and dangerous carbonaceous deposit. The break down of
sugar also forms harmful organic acids. To prevent this lime is added to feed water to maintain pH = 8.0.
A pronounced odour develops in the steam if boiler water contains sugar. Under such conditions the
contaminated feed water is turned to sewer and the boilers are blown off. To prevent these hazards tests
are conducted to determine amount of sugar traces in water. The most commonly used tests are
Naphthol test and Aresenomolybdate test.