More on Tofu and Tempe

Disturbing news in The Jakarta Post this morning. Here it is:

Consuming tempeh can reduce the risk of developing dementia in the elderly, but eating tofu can increase it, said a joint study between universities here and in Britain on Wednesday.

The study between University of Indonesia (UI), Indonesia Respati University, University of Loughborough and University of Oxford said people over 68 years of age who consumed tofu more than twice a day had a worse memory than those who rarely ate it.

The tofu news is surprising but the article goes on to explain that this could well be caused by the common practice in Indonesia of adding formaldehyde to tofu in order to extend its shelf life. There have been intermittent crackdowns on the practice but it still remains widespread. You just don't know whether the tofu you're eating is contaminated or not. This is a worry considering that I usually eat tofu once a day. Being a vegetarian is never easy but I guess I should look around for a testing kit. I remember reading about one not all that long ago.