Have survey on safety of kas-kas

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A survey by an independent agency and a study by a university are needed to establish if kas-kas is safe for consumption.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Food and Quality Research Unit (Unipeq) head, associate professor Dr Nik Ismail Nik Daud suggested the survey should begin in the Klang Valley.
“We can then find out the quantity of kas-kas consumed by an average Malaysian and use it to evaluate against any scientific studies or literature on it.
“The findings will reveal if kas-kas causes addiction or whether it has any negative effects on health,” said Nik Ismail when contacted yesterday.
It is highly unlikely for universities to carry out such a survey as the cost is too high.
Nik Ismail estimated the cost at RM100,000 if the survey is confined to the Klang Valley.
“An independent food related body or agency could fund this initiative and present the data to any institution to carry out a study, ” he said.
He was responding to a recent report where Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof was quoted as saying that kas-kas seeds used by several Indian-Muslim restaurateurs in cooking were actually poppy seeds.
This would affect one’s health, he had argued.
Although the seeds make a dish delicious, if a lot is used, it could make one feel sleepy.
His statement had somewhat angered the Indian Muslim restaurateurs.
Subsequently, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) objected to a move to ban the use of kas-kas in food preparation.
The item is not only widely used in cooking curry for nasi kandar or nasi briyani in Malaysia, but also in other countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Kas-kas has been widely used since thousands of years ago.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association president Datuk R. Ramalingam Pillai wants the Government to do a study on kas-kas to find out if indeed it can cause addiction.