Recent findings show a high number of Indian export products contain dangerous levels of contaminants, raising major health concerns globally.
Chiranjeevi Kulkarni reports for Deccan Herald.
In short:
- More than 400 Indian products were flagged by the EU for contaminants like lead, mercury, and pesticides, some exceeding safe levels.
- Among these, 59 products contained carcinogenic pesticides, and 19 were found with a banned fungicide, reflecting broader safety violations.
- Several supposedly "organic" products, including moringa and shatavari powders, tested positive for banned substances.
Key quote:
"These findings are only the tip of the iceberg, in the sense that the EU has its own limitations."
— Narasimha Reddy Donthi, researcher, Pesticide Action Network-India
Why this matters:
For countries like India, whose vast agricultural sector is a major part of its economy, such findings can have ripple effects—potentially harming the livelihood of farmers and exporters while also damaging the national brand.
For consumers worldwide, particularly those in regions like the EU where standards are rigorous, this raises alarm about the transparency of food sources and the efficacy of existing safety measures.
