Food Adulteration Crisis Deepening Across Indian States
Students at FSSAI-ERO, Kolkata. Image credit @fssaiindia
Uttar Pradesh Leads with Alarming Adulteration Rates of 52%
By Kumar Vikram
New Delhi, December 8: The silent killer lurking on your plate is more dangerous than you might imagine. Food adulteration is a crisis spiraling out of control in India, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as a horrifying epicenter.
In 2024, a shocking 52.8% of food samples in the state failed safety standards, according to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Out of 13,305 samples tested, over 7,030 were found non-confirming to the standards, putting millions of lives at risk. The nightmare doesn’t stop there—previous years paint an equally grim picture, with non-compliance rates of 59.82% in 2021-22 and 58.32% in 2023-24. Uttar Pradesh’s consistently poor performance highlights the urgent need for intervention.
Adulteration is not limited to Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan reported 28.4% adulterated samples in 2024, with 1,865 out of 6,576 samples failing to meet safety standards. Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, both states with significant food production and consumption, recorded adulteration rates of 14% and 13%, respectively. Kerala also showed a worrying 12.7% non-compliance rate, while Maharashtra stood at 18.7%.
The adulteration spans a wide range of essential food items. Milk, oils, vegetables, sweets, and grains often contain harmful substances like detergents, synthetic dyes, and heavy metals. For example, lead chromate in turmeric powder has been linked to brain damage and cancer, while calcium carbide in fruits accelerates ripening but risks causing gastrointestinal issues. Even daily staples like rice and pulses have been found contaminated with extraneous matter like stones and harmful chemicals.
The health impacts of consuming adulterated food are severe. They range from immediate symptoms like nausea, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain to chronic conditions such as kidney damage, liver dysfunction, and heart disease. Prolonged exposure to carcinogenic substances like lead and pesticides increases cancer risk, while hormone-laden fruits have been linked to long-term developmental and reproductive issues.
While FSSAI has taken steps like deploying mobile food testing labs and conducting regular surveillance, enforcement gaps persist. Addressing food adulteration requires a multi-pronged approach. Stricter implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with harsher penalties for offenders, can serve as a deterrent. Enhancing testing infrastructure and increasing transparency in food supply chains are equally crucial. Moreover, consumer education campaigns about identifying adulterated food can empower individuals to make safer choices.
The situation is dire but not insurmountable. A coordinated effort by the government, industry stakeholders, and citizens is imperative to tackle this growing public health crisis before it spirals further out of control.
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