Coconut oil 'good for health': Mini Mathews

Hyderabad, Mar 1 (UNI) Contrary to the popular view that excessive consumption of coconut oil is likely to cause coronary diseases, Coconut Development Board Chairman Mini Mathews today maintained that ''coconut oil is good for health''.

''Though coconut oil contained 60 per cent saturated fat, it is easily digestible. Coconut oil does not deposit as fat in the human body,'' she asserted, while inaugurating a national seminar on 'Food labelling and quality management for vegetable oils', organised here by the Indian Institue of Chemical Technology and Oil Technologists Association of India.

The Board would organise a campaign to remove misconceptions from the minds of the people that its consumption could cause heart diseases. Consumption of coconut oil would be a solution to address the problem of malnutrition among Indian women and children, she added.

The per capita consumption of edible oil was only 12 kg in India as against 16 kg in the developed countries, Ms Mathews said, projecting an exponential growth for the edible oil industry in the wake of the high economic growth in the country.

She underscored the need for addressing the food and safety issues and sensitising the farmers to take care of the concerns of consumers.

Opining that India should not follow the standards set by developed countries, she said ''we should set the standard for others to follow.'' UNI SM VA GD GT HS1651