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P. K. Ghatak ¹, K. Sarkar ¹, S. Moulick ¹, P. R. Ray ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Dairy Chemistry, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Mohanpur Campus - 741 252, Nadia, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Kalakand is a milk sweet prepared by blending cane sugar with khoa-a heat desiccated milk product. It is characterized by grainy texture and caramelized flavour. Kalakand has a slightly longer shelf-life as compared to khoa owing to its sugar content. Addition of preservatives like potassium sorbate, nisin, sodium and potassium metabisulphite have been found to be useful in extending the shelf-life of khoa. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of addition of nisin (PI) and potassium metabisulphite (P2) on the shelf-life of kalakand during storage,

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K. Sarkar ¹, B. Sikder ¹, P. R. Ray ¹, P. K. Ghatak ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Dairy Chemistry, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Mohanpur Campus, Nadia-741 252, IN

Abstract

Burfi is a most popular milk based confection. According to BIS specification (1970) burfi is expected to have good shelf life due to its low moisture content and high percentage of sugar. However burfi is most susceptible to microbial spoilage due to unhygienic conditions adopted during manufacture, handling and surface contamination. Various attempts have been made to enhance the shelf life of burfi.

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S. K. Chattopadhyay ¹, K. Sarkar ¹, R. Chattopadhyay ¹, G. Baur ¹, S. Trivedi ¹, S. Roy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Sericulture, Krishnath College, Berhampore, Murshidabad-742101, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Sericulture has been fully recognized as an important rural as well as household industry in India. It is a labour intensive, export oriented cottage industry, generating high employment and income per unit area of land. One hectare of mulberry land can generate employment to at least 13 persons per year. Women have played a significant role in this industry. Nearly 60% work of this industry is done by women only. In West Bengal, Malda is the biggest traditional district of sericulture. The present study was undertaken at Sujapur of Malda District as Sujapur is one of the main areas of Malda where sericulture is practiced in large scale. The main objective of the study was to examine status of women engaged in sericultural industry in terms of their educational level, income, nutrition, health and hygiene as nutrition and health are directly correlated with socio-economic status of a person and also affect the production of a farm. The present investigation indicates that 88% of women belonging to small farmers are illiterate. Even 8% of women belonging to big farmers are having education up to primary level. Maximum women of small farmers are found to come from the family income group of rupees 1501-3000 per month, while women belonging to big farmers are from the family income group of rupees 3001- 4500 per month. 72% of women belonging to small farmers and even 60% of women from big farmers are having body weight below normal. These findings are similar in case of blood pressure also. This study is a clear indication of alarming situation of sericultural women in major sericultural belt in West Bengal.

Keywords

Sericulture, Women, Income, Education, Health.

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Saurov Sett ¹, Debarati Bhattacharjee ¹, Ronita Mookerji ¹, Tasfia Rakib ¹, K. Sarkar ¹, A. K. Mitra ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology and Environmental Studies, St. Xaviers’s College, 30 Park Street, Kolkata-700 016, W.B., IN

Abstract

The result of anthropogenic activity has resulted in the entry of toxic heavy metals into the environment at any stage from mining to final use. During recycling and use it contaminates soil, crops, water, air, dust and food crops. The East Kolkata Wetland has high environmental concentrations of toxic pollutants including heavy metals in the soil because it receives the untreated sewage of Kolkata; different crops and vegetables including maize are grown here in this place. In the present investigation, the plant and animal models selected were maize and rats. The maize collected from the contaminated soil of East Kolkata wetlands was found to contain 12.5μg/mg dry-weight of lead. Cadmium was also tested but it was not present. Sixteen albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I served as control and was fed with normal diet; group II was fed with normal diet mixed with normal maize; group III was given contaminated maize from the East Kolkata wetlands mixed with normal diet and group IV was fed with a combination of 12.5μg/mg of lead chloride and normal diet. After 6 weeks, the rats were anaesthized with chloroform and then dissected. Changes in organ weight, body weight, haemoglobin percentage and lead content in various organs were determined. Short-term lead exposure showed enlargement of the kidney. In the liver, accumulation of fatty acids and lesions present were pronounced. Spleen mass had visibly increased and, in general, white patches or globules were observed. The SGPT count did not show any major changes. The body weight was found to reduce in the groups administered with lead salts and contaminated maize. But the one fed with lead contaminated maize showed partial increase. Analysis of lead in the organ samples showed the expected dose-dependent accumulation of the metal even when fed with a low concentration. There was a decrease in the weight of the liver from 2.5g to 1.9g, and increase in the weight of the spleen from 0.75g to 1g, and of kidney from 0.1g to 0.6g. There was also a notable decrease in the haemoglobin percentage of the third and fourth groups. The rats belonging to the first and second group were fed with normal food and they showed a haemoglobin percentage of 13.8% and 14.4% respectively. The third and fourth groups of rats showed a considerable fall in the haemoglobin percentage of 12.2% and 11.8% respectively.

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