Physiological status of 'Radler' type products as affected by environmental contamination following NATO air strikes on the regions of Serbia
Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade-Zemun (1,2,3,4)
Beer-based drinks, 'Radler' type products in particular, arouse interest for a number of reasons. These newly produced drinks were obtained by mixing beer and soft drinks and are intended for a larger number of target groups than their each single component. Also, they combine advantages of both components in physiological respect. They have lower alcohol content than beer, are more palatable and refreshing, can be consumed in larger amounts, retaining beneficial and physiological value of beer. As NATO air strikes resulted in heavy environmental contamination, the question is raised about the safety of these drinks and the level of toxic elements in them as well about the level of micro- and macro-elements having beneficial effects on the body. The paper gives the analysis results for 35 samples of different 'Radler' Beer-based products manufactured by domestic producers. The level of elements belonging to three distinct groups of heavy metals and that of the most important micro- and macro-elements, of therapeutic and physiological value for the body, were determined. The obtained values were compares with available data on similar products in the world, with values obtained for domestic products in the period preceding environmental contamination, and, in the case of biologically important elements, with their contents in one of oligomineral-vitamin products.