Stop Eating This! | Detailed Analysis of Indian Masala Ban | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

The video script reveals a concerning issue with Indian spices and food products containing ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, and other harmful pesticides. It criticizes the government's lax regulations and lack of warnings, highlighting how multiple countries have banned or recalled these products. The script calls for stricter safety measures, better government oversight, and suggests consumers opt for organic food and direct purchases from farmers to ensure quality.

Takeaways

• 🚫 Smoking and drinking are harmful and can lead to serious health issues like cancer and heart attacks.
• 🔎 On April 5, 2024, Hong Kong's Food Safety Centre identified unsafe levels of ethylene oxide in certain spice mixes, including MDH's Madras Curry Powder, Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala, and Everest's Fish Curry Masala.
• 🈲 Ethylene oxide is a chemical linked to cancer and is banned or restricted in many countries due to its dangerous health effects.
• 🌏 Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives have banned the mentioned spice mixes, while others like Australia, New Zealand, and Nepal are conducting independent tests.
• 🚫 Over the past four years, the European Union has banned or recalled more than 500 Indian products due to the presence of ethylene oxide.
• 🦠 US Customs authorities have rejected 31% of MDH's spice shipments to America due to traces of Salmonella, a bacteria that causes food poisoning and can be harmful in severe cases.
• 📢 The Indian government has not issued any warnings about these food safety issues, and there is a lack of media coverage on the topic.
• 🌾 The responsibility for food safety falls on the government, which includes regulatory authorities like the Spice Board of India and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• 🔍 A Twitter user's independent test of Everest's Fish Curry Masala found ethylene oxide levels 70 times higher than the permissible limit.
• 🛑 The Indian government has increased the permissible levels of pesticides in food by 10 times, which is a cause for concern given the health risks associated with such chemicals.
• 👨‍🌾 The issue affects not only consumers but also farmers, who face pressure to use more pesticides and are at risk from unsafe handling practices.

Q & A

What health risks are associated with consuming food containing ethylene oxide?

Consuming food with ethylene oxide has been directly linked to cancer and can also cause lymphohematopoietic cancer and breast cancer. It is considered a Group 1 Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, indicating it is known to cause cancer in humans.

Which spice mixes were identified by Hong Kong's Food Safety Centre as containing high levels of ethylene oxide?

The spice mixes identified were three from MDH: Madras Curry Powder, Curry Powder, and Sambhar Masala, and one from Everest, their Fish Curry Masala.

What actions have been taken by Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives regarding the banned spice mixes?

As of May 4th, 2024, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives have banned the mentioned spice mixes in their countries due to the presence of ethylene oxide.

What is the European Union's stance on ethylene oxide in food products?

The European Union has a zero-tolerance policy for ethylene oxide, completely banning its use in food products within the EU. However, a small allowance was made for imported products, with the maximum residual limit set at 0.1 milligram per kilogram as of 2022.

Why has the US Customs authorities sent back 31% of MDH's spice exports?

The US Customs authorities have sent back 31% of MDH's spice exports because traces of Salmonella, a bacteria that causes food poisoning, were found in them.

What is the role of the Spice Board of India in regulating food safety?

The Spice Board of India is the government's regulatory authority responsible for issuing necessary clearances and approvals for spice products, ensuring they meet safety standards under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

What is the significance of the 20-day testing period mentioned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)?

The 20-day testing period is the time FSSAI claims it needs to test and declare whether the spice mixes contain harmful levels of ethylene oxide. This period has been criticized for being excessively long compared to independent tests conducted by individuals.

What is the maximum permissible limit of ethylene oxide in food according to the European Union's new regulation in 2022?

The maximum permissible limit of ethylene oxide in food according to the European Union's new regulation in 2022 is 0.1 milligram per kilogram for imported products.

How does the situation with ethylene oxide in Indian food products compare to other countries' standards?

The situation with ethylene oxide in Indian food products is concerning as it has led to numerous product rejections and bans in countries like the European Union, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which have stricter standards and regulations compared to India.

What steps can consumers take to protect themselves from harmful chemicals in food?

Consumers can check ingredient lists, ask AI tools like ChatGPT about the safety of ingredients, buy fresh produce, and get food items tested at different laboratories if they doubt the quality.

What was the response from the Indian government regarding the increased permissible levels of pesticides in food?

The Indian government, under the Modi administration, increased the permissible levels of pesticides in food by 10 times, which has raised concerns about the safety of the food supply and the potential health risks for consumers.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Health Risks of Spices Contamination 🚨

The video script begins with a stark warning about the health hazards of consuming certain spice mixes, including those from MDH and Everest, which have been found to contain high levels of ethylene oxide, a chemical linked to cancer. The Hong Kong Food Safety Centre and other international food agencies have issued warnings and bans on these products. The European Union has been particularly vigilant, banning or recalling over 500 Indian products containing ethylene oxide in the past four years. The script also criticizes the Indian government's lack of action and transparency on the issue, highlighting a concerning lack of regulation and oversight.

05:00

🧪 Ethylene Oxide: The Silent Culprit in Spices 🧪

This paragraph delves into the specifics of ethylene oxide, a fumigant used in the storage of spices that has been reclassified as a pesticide residue by the European Union. It explains the sterilization process and the importance of aeration in removing ethylene oxide from food products. The paragraph also discusses the health risks associated with the chemical, including its classification as a Group 1 Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the stringent regulations in place in Europe and elsewhere to limit its presence in food.

10:00

🤖 AI Tools for Safeguarding Food Consumption 🤖

The script introduces the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to help consumers check the ingredients of food items for potential health hazards. It provides examples of how to inquire about specific additives and their safety, emphasizing the efficiency of AI in quickly providing information that would otherwise take hours to research. The paragraph also promotes a Master ChatGPT course and an alternative app, Ginni AI, as resources for consumers to make informed decisions about their food.

15:01

🌾 The Plight of Indian Spice Exports and Farmer's Health 🌾

This section of the script discusses the broader implications of the contamination issues, including the rejection of Indian spice shipments by the US due to Salmonella and the rejection of other food products by various countries. It also touches on the health risks faced by farmers from pesticides, the pressure exerted on them by companies to use these chemicals, and the government's slow response to banning harmful pesticides. The script calls for stricter regulations and an end to the influence of pesticide companies on government policy.

20:04

📉 The Downfall of Food Safety Standards in India 📉

The paragraph criticizes the Indian government's recent decision to increase the maximum residual limit of pesticides in food by tenfold, arguing that this move endangers public health. It questions the basis for this decision and highlights the objections raised by the Pesticide Action Network India. The script also points out the discrepancy between the government's claims of having the most stringent standards and the actual laxity in regulation, suggesting a potential conflict of interest.

25:04

🌱 The Organic Alternative and the Need for Government Action 🌱

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of promoting organic food as a healthier alternative to conventionally grown products. However, it acknowledges the limitations of organic food in terms of affordability and the recent issues with organic imports from India being found to contain pesticides. The script concludes by stressing that the ultimate solution to the problem of food contamination lies with the government, which must introduce stricter regulations and eliminate corruption to ensure the safety and health of its citizens.

Keywords

💡Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a chemical compound used primarily for sterilizing medical equipment and fumigating spices. It is highly toxic and classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans. The video highlights its presence in several Indian spice mixes and discusses its dangerous health impacts and the international regulations surrounding its use.

💡Salmonella

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, characterized by diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. In the video, it is mentioned that U.S. Customs authorities have rejected many shipments of MDH spices due to contamination with Salmonella, highlighting concerns about food safety and quality control.

💡Spice Board of India

The Spice Board of India is a regulatory authority under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, responsible for the certification and quality control of spices. The video criticizes the board for allegedly approving contaminated spice products, which have been found to contain harmful chemicals like ethylene oxide.

💡FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a government body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, tasked with ensuring food safety. The video criticizes the FSSAI for its slow response to testing and regulating contaminated spices, highlighting issues in India's food safety regulatory framework.

💡Carcinogen

A carcinogen is a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. The video explains that ethylene oxide is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, indicating it poses a significant cancer risk, especially when found in food products.

💡Pesticide Residue

Pesticide residues refer to traces of chemicals used in pest control that remain in or on food after harvesting. The video discusses the increase in permissible levels of pesticide residues in India, highlighting concerns about the safety and regulation of these substances in the food supply.

💡MDH and Everest

MDH and Everest are prominent Indian spice brands. The video discusses how these brands' products have been found to contain dangerous levels of ethylene oxide and Salmonella, leading to bans and recalls in several countries, raising questions about their quality control practices.

💡Food Safety Standards

Food safety standards are regulations that ensure the safety and quality of food products. The video contrasts the stringent standards of countries like the EU and Hong Kong with the perceived lax standards in India, which has led to the export of contaminated products and subsequent international bans.

💡Fumigation

Fumigation is the process of using gaseous chemicals to disinfect or sterilize products. The video explains that ethylene oxide is used for fumigating spices to kill bacteria and fungi, but improper fumigation practices can leave harmful residues in food products, posing health risks.

💡Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to kill pests that harm crops. The video discusses the widespread use of toxic and carcinogenic pesticides in India, the health risks associated with them, and the government's controversial decision to increase the permissible limits of pesticide residues in food.

Highlights

Smoking and drinking are identified as harmful to health, with links to deadly diseases like cancer and heart attacks.

On April 5, 2024, Hong Kong's Food Safety Centre issued a warning about 3 MDH spice mixes and Everest's Fish Curry Masala containing high levels of ethylene oxide, a chemical linked to cancer.

Singapore's Food Agency found ethylene oxide in Everest's Fish Curry Masala, leading to a ban in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives.

Over 500 Indian products have been banned or recalled by the European Union's Food Safety Authorities due to ethylene oxide contamination.

US Customs authorities returned 31% of MDH's spice exports to America due to Salmonella contamination.

The Indian government increased the permissible pesticide levels by 10 times, raising concerns about public health.

The Spice Board of India and FSSAI are responsible for regulating food safety but have been criticized for their lack of action.

A Twitter user's independent test revealed ethylene oxide in Everest's Fish Curry Masala at levels 70 times higher than the permissible limit.

Ethylene oxide is a fumigant used in the storage stage of spices and can lead to the formation of other lethal chemicals if not properly removed.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a Group 1 Carcinogen, indicating it causes cancer in humans.

The European Union has a zero-tolerance policy for ethylene oxide, with a reduced maximum residual limit of 0.1 milligram per kilogram.

In contrast, Singapore allows a higher limit of 50 milligrams per kilogram for ethylene oxide, yet still found Everest's product to be unsafe.

The US FDA reported inadequate sanitary conditions at MDH's manufacturing plant in India, contributing to contamination.

India's food export rejection rate is seven times higher than China's, indicating a significant quality control issue.

The European Commission warned about Indian turmeric contaminated with the banned pesticide Chlorpyrifos, highlighting a broader issue with Indian food safety.

The Pesticides Action Network India found that most pesticides used in India are toxic, with many being carcinogenic.

India's organic food is considered a risk by America and Europe due to insufficient control systems and pesticide contamination.

The Indian government's increase in the maximum residual limit of pesticides raises questions about potential influence from pesticide companies.

Farmers in India are pressured to use excessive pesticides, leading to health risks and a lack of safety regulations for both consumers and producers.

The government's delay in banning harmful pesticides and the opposition to stricter regulations indicate a lack of prioritization for public health.

The video concludes by emphasizing that the solution to food safety issues in India can only come from the government through stricter regulations and oversight.

Transcripts

Hello, friends!

Smoking and drinking are injurious to our health.

We know this.

These can cause deadly diseases like c@ncer.

Increase the chances of getting a heart attack.

But, now, in New India,

wanting to add some flavour to your food,

has become injurious to your health.

On 5th April, 2024,

Hong Kong's Food Safety Centre issued the first notification.

They named 3 spice mixes from MDH.

Madras Curry Powder,

Curry Powder,

and Sambhar Masala.

And a spice mix from Everest, their Fish Curry Masala.

These contained dangerously high levels of ethylene oxide.

Consuming this chemical has been directly linked to c@ncer.

In many countries, using it is completely banned.

Singapore's Food Agency conducted independent testing,

and found this in Everest's Fish Curry Masala.

As of 4th May, 2024, the day I'm shooting this video,

Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives

have banned these spice mixes in their countries.

Australia, New Zealand, and Nepal's food agencies

are testing these independently,

soon they may be banned in these countries too.

But this isn't the end of the story.

When it was analysed further, it was revealed that

In the last 4 years, European Union's Food Safety Authorities have

either banned or recalled more than 500 Indian products.

527 such products that contained ethylene oxide.

Not only spice mixes, everything is included in this list.

Nuts, seeds, herbs, spices,

cereals, fruits, vegetables, flavours,

ice cream, thickeners, and many more.

Not only this, in the past 6 months,

the spices and spice mixes exported by MDH to America,

the US Customs authorities have sent back 31% of them.

Citing that traces of Salmonella was found in them.

This bacteria causes food poisoning.

Diarrhea, fever, vomiting,

and in severe cases, it can harm a person's nervous system too.

This is a critical situation,

but we find out about such news only because

the authorities of foreign countries are doing their work properly.

While in our country, it isn't talked about on TV channels,

neither did our government issue any warnings.

Far from issuing warnings.

last month, the Modi government,

increased the permissible pesticide levels by 10 times.

The level of pesticide that is allowed to be present in food,

was increased 10 times.

They are playing with the lives of 1.4 billion people.

This isn't about a few spice mixes.

This is much more dangerous than it seems.

Come, in this video, let's understand this in-depth,

which are the chemicals found in foodstuff,

why are they there,

what are the reasons for this,

and what can you do to protect yourself?

Before beginning this video, let me clarify something.

Before someone asks why do I always bring our government into such matters,

because they think that the government is blameless,

there is absolutely no doubt that

the entire responsibility falls on the government.

When Everest was asked the reason their products were declared unsafe,

what did they say?

That they had received the necessary clearances and approvals by the Spice Board.

What is the Spice Board of India?

Indian Government's regulatory authority

that falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Apart from this, whether our food contain c@ncerous chemicals or not,

FSSAI is supposed to investigate that.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India,

that falls under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

This isn't limited to our country only.

Other countries' food authorities fall under their governments too.

But at least those countries are trying to protect their citizens.

At the very least, they are warning their citizens about unsafe food,

and the products that they need to stay away from.

While our government did not dare utter a word about it.

The only response from the FSSAI is that

they need 20 days to test these spice mixes.

Only then will they declare whether these are harmful or not.

They need 20 days to do this.

While a common citizen has already tested these,

and received the test results within a few days.

"FSSAI is the unit that asked for 20 days to tell us

whether this contains ethylene oxide or not."

"My question to the FSSAI is that

if within 4 days I can find out

the level of ethylene oxide in it,

why do you need 20 days?"

Look at this report.

A Twitter user decided that

they will send Everest's Fish Curry Masala for testing,

They sent it to the Food Hygiene and Health Laboratory.

On 23rd April, he sent a sample of this spice mix weighing 50g,

and by 26th April the report had come in.

What was the result?

This spice mix contains ethylene oxide

in the concentration of 7.57 milligram per kilogram.

But the maximum permissible limit is 0.1 milligram per kilogram.

This c@ncer-causing chemical exceeded the permissible limit by 70 times.

Some people give excuses

that this is a global conspiracy to oust the Modi Government,

they question why did this news break out right before the elections.

The news didn't break out right before the election.

It has been developing for a long time.

The problem is that the TV channels aren't telling you about it.

Between October 2022 and September 2023,

America rejected 15% of MDH's products.

As I told you, from 2020 to the present day,

the European Union has rejected or banned 527 Indian products.

But if you don't believe those countries,

take a look at this report.

This was tested by an Indian at an Indian laboratory.

If you have understood the seriousness of this issue,

come, let's talk a little about this chemical, Ethylene Oxide.

Its short form is EO or EtO.

It is a byproduct of fossil fuels,

and has numerous industrial uses.

But the use which is relevant in this matter,

is the fumigation of spices.

The word Fumigation means

disinfecting or sterilising.

K!lling the harmful micro-organisms and bacteria in food.

Ethylene oxide is used as a gas.

Because gas flows through the packaging materials very easily.

And it can be used in an easily and efficiently

to disinfect things.

This is a colourless gas so you won't see it,

but it is flammable.

It can catch fire.

This is useful in k!lling harmful bacteria like E-Coli and Salmonella.

It can also be used to get rid of fungus.

But interestingly,

this isn't used during production.

It is used only during the storage stage.

So if there's high levels of ethylene oxide in the spices,

the farmer growing the crops isn't at fault.

Rather, it is the company's responsibility,

that uses ethylene oxide during post-harvest treatment and before packaging.

The problem arises during storage.

You can see this simple flowchart on the screen,

it shows the various processes that are involved in

the sterilisation of ethylene oxide.

First of all, there's Preconditioning,

that checks the humidity, temperature, and pressure control.

Then this gas is used for sterilisation,

followed by gas evacuation and gas washing.

The third process is known as Aeration.

This is an important step.

Because, in this step, this chemical is removed from the product.

Nitrogen injections and vacuum degassing are used to remove this gas.

This is crucial because this step is the root of the problem.

If the food is sterilised of EtO,

but the aeration isn't properly executed,

the traces of this chemical would remain in the food.

This can lead to the formation of other lethal chemical compositions.

like 2-Chloroethanol,

Ethylene Chlorodydrin,

or Ethylene Glycol,

these are the same lethal chemicals that were found in the cough syrups.

I talked about it in the Pharma Files video.

The cough syrup that led to the de@ths of children in Uzbekistan.

This is why International Agency for Research on Cancer,

categorises ethylene oxide into Group 1 Carcinogen.

They have 4 groups for classification.

Group 1 lists the things that cause c@ncer in humans for sure.

Group 2 lists things that probably give c@ncer to humans.

Group 2B lists things that can possibly cause c@ncer among people,

and the Group 3 carcinogens are non-classified.

So the things in Group 1 are the most dangerous.

You can see the list of chemicals in Group 1.

It includes several things,

like coal, tobacco,

aluminium production, exhaust from d!esel engines,

and one of these entries lists ethylene oxide.

It's also said that even low levels of ethylene oxide

increases the risk of lymphohematopoietic c@ncer and breast c@ncer.

If you inhale this gas,

it can cause permanent mutations to your cellular materials.

And this can be passed on to your future generations.

This is why the European Union has a zero tolerance policy for ethylene oxide.

Not only have they completely banned ethylene oxide in European countries,

but they have also banned ethylene oxide in imported products.

There was a small change to this policy in 2003,

when they noticed that the

risk of microbial contamination is quite high among imported food.

Based on this,

they allowed small traces of ethylene oxide in food.

They defined the maximum residual limit of 0.2 milligrams per kilogram.

So EtO is allowed within this limit,

but not more than this.

But this limit was further reduced in 2022.

The new limit was reduced to 0.1 milligram per kilogram.

So this is the acceptable EtO limit in Europe,

and only for the imported products.

EtO is still completely banned for any European production process.

Last year, in April 2023,

the changed EtO's classification,

instead of calling it a fumigant,

it is now labelled as Pesticide Residue.

This change in definition meant that

it became mandatory for every European country,

to test their food samples for EtO.

In Singapore, the maximum allowed limit of ethylene oxide is

much higher than that of Europe, 50 milligram per kilogram.

There EtO is allowed to be used for fumigation,

but the limit is 500 times that of Europe.

Even so, when they tested Everest's Fish Curry Masala,

they found that this chemical exceeded their permissible limit.

In Hong Kong, the regulations are stricter than that of Singapore.

Not only do they consider EtO to be a pesticide,

they don't allow it to be used even for fumigation,

and neither as a pesticide.

If there's any violation regarding food quality in Hong Kong,

it can draw fines of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.

If these facts are causing you some tension,

and you're worried about the harmful things or chemicals in our food,

don't worry too much about it.

An AI tool like ChatGPT can help you with this.

Check the ingred!ent lists of any food item,

and you can ask ChatGPT about any ingred!ent.

For example, Potassium Bromate that is used in many breads.

Ask if potassium bromate is bad for human health,

and if it is banned in any country,

you will clearly see that it has been banned in some places, including Europe and Canada,

but it is still allowed in America.

And that it is detrimental to health.

If you don't want to ask about the ingred!ents one by one,

then you can simply give it the photo of the ingred!ent list.

And ask ChatGPT if any of the ingred!ents are unhealthy.

You will get an excellent breakdown

as you can see on the screen.

ChatGPT will be immensely useful in your daily life for such things.

Normally, if you try to search these on Google,

it will take you hours to find the answer.

This is why I have a 5.5-hours-long Master ChatGPT course on Dhruv Rathee Academy.

In your stud!es, work, or daily life,

you can speed up every task with ChatGPT.

I add regular updates to this course.

The next update will be added in June 2024.

If you haven't joined it yet,

You can use the link given in the description

or you can scan this QR code.

Use the coupon code FOOD40

to get 40% off.

I'd like to add one more thing,

if ChatGPT's subscription seems expensive to you,

try this app, Ginni AI.

It offers the same performance and features available in ChatGPT,

but it is available at half the price of ChatGPT.

They offer Photo Chat and PDF Chat too.

You can add a pic of the ingred!ent list with your question

and it will give you the same answer.

The link is in the description.

And let us get back to the topic.

Despite all this,

Everest's director, Rajiv Shah claims that

EtO is found only in 1 of their 60 products.

The other spices are safe to consume.

On the other hand, MDH also claims that their products are safe

and can be consumed.

But do you know what, friends, it isn't about ethylene oxide only.

as I mentioned at the beginning of the video.

the MDH shipments that were rejected in America,

was because of Salmonella.

It is ironic that

EtO is used to k!ll bacteria like Salmonella.

Some products have high levels of EtO,

while some are contaminated by Salmonella.

US's FDA revealed that between October 2022 and September 2023,

15% of MDH spices imported into America,

were refused due to Salmonella.

But over the next period, from October 2023 to the present day,

the rate of rejection is at 31%.

In total, 11 shipments have been rejected,

which contained spices, flavours, and salts by MDH.

Here, 1 shipment doesn't mean only one product,

1 shipment may refer to 1 carton,

1 truckload,

or an entire shipping container.

According to the Outlook article, in January 2022,

US FDA conducted a physical investigation of MDH's manufacturing plant in India.

Back then the threat wasn't this severe,

but the FDA had noted that

the plant lacked adequate sanitary and accommodation facilities.

The exact quote is that

"the equipment and utensils at the plant

were not designed or constructed

to be properly cleaned

or maintained to prevent contamination."

This isn't limited to MDH's products.

Between Financial Years 2020 and 2023,

America rejected 786 shipments from India.

A total of 3,925 human food export shipments

were sent from India to the US.

Of which 20% were rejected due to Salmonella.

This wasn't limited to spices.

It included vitamins, minerals, proteins,

bakery products as well as seafood products.

Read the headline of this article.

Any shipment from India has 7 times higher chance of being rejected,

as compared to a Chinese shipment.

The standards of our country have fallen so low.

This isn't limited to ethylene oxide or Salmonella.

Look at this news from last year.

14 November 2023,

the European Commission sounded alarm about turmeric imported from India.

A lethal pesticide Chlorpyrifos was found in it.

This pesticide is banned across many countries

because of adverse effect on children's brain growth.

This is why I'm saying that this problem is much bigger than a few spices.

This has been going on for several years.

In Europe, the alarm bells were rung in 2020 by Belgium,

when ethylene oxide was found in Indian sesame seeds.

Since then, it has been found in so many products.

Cereals, chocolates, biscuits,

bread, crackers, spices,

and even in the animal feed of farm animals,

was contaminated with it.

It was only after this Belgium incident that

the European Food Safety Agency started taking Indian imported food seriously.

They have an information network,

European Rapid Alert System for Food And Feed

also known as RASFF,

their data is publicly available.

So you can go on their website and check it for yourself.

Between March 2019 and March 2024,

there have been 985 RASFF notifications regarding Indian imports

that have been filed under the serious category.

This isn't a nexus.

This is a system to ensure the safety of European citizens.

They try to spread awareness among people about what they consume.

I have added the link to the website in the description below,

go check it out,

and look at some examples on the screen.

Notifications from May 2022 and April 2022,

cumin and fenugreek were contaminated with Chlorpyrifos pesticide.

Finland rejected it at the border.

And the Netherlands issued alerts regarding this.

Both were filed under Serious classification.

You can use the Search function on their website,

to look up various products,

like Aflatoxins were found in peanut butter, groundnut, and rice imported from India.

Salmonella was found in sesame seeds, onion powder, and betel leaves from India.

Harmful chemicals like mercury and lead

were found in Ayurvedic products imported from India.

You can scroll further to check out the details of the notifications

to see the exact amount of these toxins.

Thankfully, we still have the judiciary in our country

that is functioning independently to some extent.

Recently it has tightened the reins,

otherwise our Health Ministry and the FSSAI,

had given free rein.

They were allowed to do any sort of false advertisements.

Do you remember that our government banned Maggi in 2015,

because of traces of MSG?

Just after this, Patanjali Noodles were launched all across the country.

But now when so many Indian products have been banned globally,

our government doesn't have anything to say.

Can you imagine that so many chemicals,

so many pesticides,

the FSSAI hasn't issued any warnings about them even after so many reports.

This is a concerning matter for our country.

The Pesticides Action Network India conducted a study,

they found that of the 275 pesticides used in India

about 255 of them are toxic poisons,

and 56 are carcinogenic.

This study was conducted in 2017.

Today, 292 pesticides are used in our country.

The children are the most vulnerable.

Because this affects their brain growth and development.

Some people may consider organic food to be the solution.

In my opinion, it is definitely the better option.

But there are 2 problems with organic food.

First, how many people can afford that kind of food?

And the second problem is that India's organic food,

is classified as a risk by America and Europe.

11th January 2021,

America's Department of Agriculture ended their agreement with

India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

As per this agreement, Indian businesses,

could use USDA certification for the organic food produced in India.

But America backed out of this agreement by saying that

India's organic control system is insufficient.

It does not meet their standards,

if the USDA organic label is used for those products,

it would degrade the label's reputation.

Look at this scientific report published in Europe in March 2024.

It's published by European Union's EFSA.

It mentions that the organic organic dry beans, rice, and cumin seeds,

imported from India have been contaminated by the Chlorpyrifos pesticide.

So even if you eat organic food,

there's no guarantee that it won't contain any pesticide.

Although, I'd still say that

it will be the better choice, if you can afford it.

But despite all of this,

the most shameless thing done by the Modi government,

was this.

On 8th April 2024,

FSSAI issued a notification.

It increased the MRL or Maximum Residual Limit of pesticides.

Not by a small margin,

by 10 times.

The government increased the permissible limit of pesticides by 10 times.

Earlier, 0.01 milligram per kilogram of pesticide was acceptable.

Then it was increased to 0.1 milligram of pesticide by 1 kilogram.

In this notification, FSSAI said that

these figures have been set after proper field trials,

But the Pesticide Action Network India raised an objection to this mandate.

They said that the CIBRC doesn't even conduct field trials of pesticides.

All data is provided by manufacturing companies

and CIBRC merely approves the pesticides

based on that data.

When people started talking about this news on social media,

the FSSAI started to defend itself by saying that

the news was untrue and an attempt to defame them.

Look at this news article.

FSSAI claims that the reports of them raising the limit to 10 times what it was

were false and malicious reports.

And that India has the most stringent standards.

So let's look at their defense and how untrue this news was.

They acknowledge that they have raised the limits,

to 10 times what it was,

but only for those pesticides,

that are not registered with the CIBRC.

CIBRC is the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee of India.

They do admit that they raised the permissible limit for some pesticides.

So the first question is, why did they raise it?

Look at their order from August 2022 on their website,

the second section of the 3rd point states that

those pesticides that are not registered with the CIBRC,

have the default limit at 0.01 milligram per kilogram.

They allowed a lower limit for these pesticides in their older orders.

But now, why has the limit been increased?

FSSAI has another excuse that

they had to increase the default limit,

because the imported food from foreign countries

maybe from a country where this limit is higher,

so they wanted to raise the limit to allow those imported food.

They shifted the blame to other countries.

Because the imported food may have higher levels of pesticides,

they are willing to let their countrymen consume food laced with pesticides.

Our government is doing just the opposite of what

the developed countries are doing.

What did the European Union, Hong Kong, Singapore do?

They do not water down the regulations in their country,

they keep their domestic regulations strict,

so that their citizens get high-quality imported food,

without any pesticides.

And if FSSAI is so concerned about imported food,

how many times have they warned Indian citizens

about high levels of pesticides in any imported food?

Have you ever come across any FSSAI warnings?

Is the Modi government taking bribes from these pesticide companies?

Is this hiding another kickback scam?

This isn't only about us consumers,

this affects the farmers too.

According to BMC Public Health data,

globally, 11,000 farmers lose their lives every year

due to pesticides.

About 6,500 of these farmers are generally Indians.

It means that 60% of the farmers who lose their lives,

are from our country.

However, these numbers are under-reported

and there's no law to ensure the safety of farmers.

Far from providing safety, when there's any form of

adulteration in food, people blame the farmers.

But as I told you,

the ethylene oxide contamination in food,

isn't because of the production,

it happens during the storage and post-production stage.

And talking about pesticides,

companies put so much pressure on the farmers,

forcing them to use more and more pesticides.

Farmers are told that they will get a good harvest

only when they use a lot of pesticides.

An article in the Deccan Herald reported a farmer saying that

companies tell them to spray pesticides before they begin planting.

And the seeds are coated with chemicals too.

In fact, the bio-pesticides,

which are the naturally occurring chemicals,

are actually a cocktail of chemicals nowadays.

In 2015, our government set up an Expert Committee

under the chairmanship of Dr Anupam Verma.

This committee reviewed 66 pesticides,

that are banned in some country or the other,

but are still used in India.

When this committee submitted its report,

it recommended that the government ban at least 13 of these pesticides,

and 6 other pesticides be phased out by 2020.

But the government took 4 years to listen to this committee.

In 2019, 12 pesticides were finally banned.

And it was planned to phase out 6 by December 2020.

The government delayed taking action for 5 years.

Moreover, on 14th May 2020,

the Central Government issued a draft order,

that of the 66 pesticides mentioned,

27 should be banned.

But the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers opposed this ban.

And the central government took a U-turn.

Three years later, in February 2023,

another notification was issued by the government.

This time, the government wanted to

ban only 3 out of the 27 pesticides.

24 out of the 27 pesticides

are completely banned in other countries.

But our Modi government thinks that

it's enough to ban only 3 of them.

Why does our government

give a free hand to FMCG companies and pesticide companies like this?

Even the foreign companies come to India,

they are allowed to exploit standards like this.

You must have watched Food Pharmer's videos.

He has investigated numerous products across multiple companies.

Nestlé, KitKat, Cerelac, Lays,

Pringles, Skittles, m&ms,

Cadbury, Bournvita.

Recently, he exposed Indigo Airline's food.

How even their so-called healthy food,

like upma, poha, dal-chawal,

have a higher level of sodium than Maggi.

But how do these companies respond?

That their actions are within the boundaries set by law.

The guidelines set by the government.

They claim that they are fulfilling the FSSAI norms.

So friends, whether it is an Indian food company,

MNCs, chemicals, pesticides,

companies selling cold drinks,

natural 'Ayurveda' scams,

government doesn't actively control any of them.

Prime Minister Modi is busy giving speeches

and scaring people with mangalsutra, mutton, and Muslims.

While people are being served poisonous food.

The true solution can come only from the government.

If the government introduces stricter regulations.

If the government stops taking kickbacks in the form of political donations.

As an individual, we can try

to buy organic food.

If you know a farmer, buy produce from them directly,

so that you can be assured of its quality.

Back to ethylene oxide,

since there were problems with the storage,

try to buy the freshest produce possible.

If you doubt the quality of any food item,

you can get them tested at different laboratories.

I mentioned this at the beginning of the video,

a Twitter user sent a sample to test for ethylene oxide.

Overall, the more that you can try to promote organic food

the better it would be.

But the true solution to this lethal problem,

can come only through the government.

Will the incumbent Modi government deliver this solution?

I find that hard to believe

because this government is busy raking in money by whatever means.

Not only did this lobbying and kickbacks poison our food,

but they have also degraded the quality of our medicines.

I talked about it in the Pharma Files video,

click here to watch the video for more details.

Thank you very much!