Umashankar Mishra (Twitter handle: @usm_1984)
New Delhi, May 11 (India Science Wire): Spirulina Chikkies developed by Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, has been falsely claimed in some media reports as a cure for COVID-19, said Director of the Institute, Dr KSMS Raghava rao.
“We have come to know that reports televised on 9th May 2020 by the Kannada channels, Public TV and News 18, have claimed that Spirulina Chikkiesis a cure for COVID-19. On the contrary, it is far from the truth. CFTRI has never claimed that the Spirulina Chikkies or any of the other products recently supplied as relief are cures for any disease or illness. Spirulina Chikkies are supplements for nutrients that help in building immunity”, said Dr Raghavarao.
These chikkies were not developed as a cure for COVID-19, but for combating malnutrition in children. They are helpful in all situations where immunity requires to be maintained. It is clarified in a statement released by CFTRI, a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
“The TV reports also made a claim that the COVID-19 cases in Mysuru were reduced because of Spirulina Chikkies, which is to say the least gross misrepresentation. I wish to put the record straight here that it is the untiring effort of the District Administration, the Doctors and other staff of the district hospital, and other departments of the government, which is responsible for the reduced disease status in Mysuru. The misrepresentation by the TV channels is an injustice meted out to these dedicated Corona warriors”, said Dr Raghavarao.
