Food safety company, Alvarita, launched the world’s first portable nitrate and radiation detector in South Africa. The GreenTest Nitrate Tester is a compact, award-winning device that tests nitrate levels in fruit, vegetables, meat, and water, helping people to quantify their daily nitrate intake and make healthier choices. The food safe nitrate levels are determined on the bases of World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

Why should we be Testing for Nitrates?

Nitrate occurs naturally in fruit and vegetables, and in small amounts is not harmful, but over the years the levels of nitrate occurring in food has increased due to modern agricultural methods.  According to GreenTest manufacturer, Anmez, Nitrogen is the most-used fertiliser in the world, and today we are using almost 20 times more than we did 50 years ago, which is posing serious health threats.

“Sadly, most people are not aware of the risks they face daily when shopping for fruits and vegetables; foods that we know are good for us, but the issue is the excess of nitrogen in what we are consuming, that our bodies convert to damaging carcinogenic nitrates,” says Damian Michael, owner of Alvarita.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Nitrate Standards

WHO recommends a maximum daily intake of 3.7 milligrams of nitrate per 1 kg of body weight, and we now ingest 10 times more nitrate than recommended. According to many health studies, an excess of nitrates can lead to medical issues including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and even baby blue syndrome, which is characterised by an overall skin colour with a blue or purple tinge, called cyanosis.

Technology to Help

This first-of-its-kind technology, was conceived by a group of specialists from Russia, USA and Taiwan in 2006, who gathered with the aim of developing a revolutionary technology that would promote healthy living.

In 2014, Anmez was established in China and started the development of the GreenTest device. Currently, the company operates globally through exclusive distributors in over 20 countries.

“I was introduced to this product when I attended the 37th Gitex Technology Week   in Dubai in October 2017, and immediately saw how this innovative technology could be relevant in promoting the health of South Africans.  There are close to 10,000 new cases of diabetes in South Africa each month, and we have the highest incidence of type 2 diabetes on the African continent. With the current drought that parts of the country are experiencing, there is also concern around water quality,” says Michael.

Michael, who is also the owner of tech company, Innovo Networks, believes in empowering consumers by giving them choices.

“I want people to be armed with the knowledge they need to make the choice that’s right for them. What I love about GreenTest, is that it only takes three seconds to measure the levels of toxins in your food, enabling you to make a choice right there and then.”

The GreenTest Nitrate Tester

The light-weight portable device weighs a mere 30 grams and is equipped with a database of 64 of the most commonly consumed fruits and vegetables.  GreenTest retails from R 1,499.00, and the four different options available can be ordered from the Alvarita website.

alvarita.co.za | info@alvarita.co.za | 021-811-3333