Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha brought attention to the critical issue of food adulteration in India during a Parliament session. Chadha expressed concern over companies selling harmful products disguised as healthy and energy-boosting items. He highlighted various instances of contamination in everyday essentials, such as milk containing urea, vegetables injected with oxytocin, and paneer mixed with starch and caustic soda.
Chadha painted a vivid picture of the risks posed by adulterated food, especially to vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and pregnant women. He shared examples of how even traditional sweets are prepared using vegetable oil instead of pure ghee. Chadha emphasized the need for immediate action to address the widespread issue of food adulteration in the country.
The MP referenced a study revealing alarming statistics, with 71% of milk samples found to contain urea and 64% having neutralizers like sodium bicarbonate. Chadha pointed out that the discrepancy between milk production and sales volume indicates a significant level of dilution and adulteration in the market. He also highlighted the impact of adulteration on medicines and vegetables, citing the common use of oxytocin, a chemical associated with various health risks.
Chadha underscored the international implications of food adulteration, noting that products from Indian spice companies had been banned in the UK and Europe due to cancer-causing pesticides. Despite these bans, the same products are freely available in India. He stressed the urgent need to strengthen regulatory bodies like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and proposed measures such as stricter penalties for violators and a public recall mechanism for adulterated products.
