Hanukkah has a health price that you probably do not know

Every year, more than 30 million donuts are sold in Israel, and now it turns out that the people who prepare this oily treat for us may suffer from "bakers' asthma."

Why does this happen - and how are they saved?

Walla!

health

28/11/2021

Sunday, 28 November 2021, 08:02 Updated: 08:19

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Roldan Hanukkah 2020 Donuts (Dave Shachar)

Most of us have eaten quite a few donuts this year, and now that Hanukkah officially begins - that number will go up and up.

Israelis consume about 30 million donuts on Hanukkah, and on average each Israeli eats between 3-4 donuts on the holiday.

We write here every year about the health price of donuts - which is mostly related to empty calories and high fat percentages - but now it turns out that the ones who pay the real price are the bakers and confectioners who make the donuts every year.

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To the full article

Baked exposed to a particular type of asthma - a disease caused as a result of inflammation of the airways - created as a result of regular and prolonged exposure to flour.

Baked during their work to "flour dust" which is used as a basic and common raw material in a variety of foods and cooking methods.

According to the research department of the U.S. Department of Health, bakers are 83 times more likely to suffer from work-related asthma than other professions and about 2.5 percent of the bakers 'population suffers from bakers' asthma.

Bake exposed to flour dust in many processes: grinding, sifting, collecting, storing, transporting, baking, cooking and more.

In small bakeries most of the operations are done by hand, so there is a high concentration of flour dust in the work stations.

The bakers and confectioners exposed to flour develop nasal and eye infections, asthma of the bakers and dermatitis.

Bakers are 83 times more likely to have asthma.

Sour baker powdered sugar on donuts (Photo: ShutterStock)

Last August, the Tel Aviv Labor Court officially recognized a baker who suffered from a lung disease as a work-related injury.

The baker, who died before the verdict in the lawsuit he filed, worked for decades in a bakery and was exposed every day to flour and smoke emitted from ovens.

He suffered from a chronic lung disease consisting of asthma and other diseases.

The judge ruled that alongside the recognition that the worker was defined as a heavy smoker, occupational asthma was the dominant impairment that led to his death.

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The Institute for Safety and Hygiene has recently issued new guidelines to maintain the safety of bakers and confectioners in bakeries during Hanukkah:

• The floors and other surfaces should be regularly scrubbed, or (depending on the situation) use a vacuum cleaner, and install an efficient ventilation system Dry flour).

• An efficient air intake and air conditioning system must be installed to prevent air pollution and heat load.

• Check the microwave ovens for radiation leaks, and repair them if necessary.

• The burners must be regulated so that the combustion is efficient and in order to reduce the amounts of carbon monoxide. It is important to install detectors with audible alert in case the CO concentration exceeds the dangerous concentration.

• A respirator should be used to avoid breathing dust or aerosols.

• It is important to use proven and safe methods of lifting and moving heavy or bulky loads; And use mechanical aids to assist in lifting operations.

Dr. Mickey Winkler, Acting Director General of the Institute for Safety and Hygiene, said after the publication of the guidelines that "Hanukkah is one of the most beloved holidays for Israeli citizens and the bakers and confectioners have a big part in it, it is our duty to ensure their safety.

"Even when the high demand requires workers to work around the clock and increase production, it is important to maintain safety in the bakery and prevent occupational diseases that can be caused as a result of multiple exposure to flour dust."

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• Donuts

• Hanukkah

• flour

• asthma

• Institute for Safety and Hygiene