NHRC alarmed over pesticide levels in food samples

According to a Union Agriculture Ministry report, harmful chemicals are present in alarmingly high doses in food items across the country, with the highest number of failed samples being that of vegetables.

There has been an almost two-fold increase in the number of vegetables, fruits, meat and spices samples containing pesticides above the permitted level in the last six years, suggests a report by the Union Ministry of Agriculture.

The report has caught attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter, while pointing out that any food article injurious to public health is a potential danger to the fundamental Right to life.

Citing Supreme Court’s rulings, NHRC member Justice D. Murugesan said over the weekend that the right to food was a fundamental Right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“The enjoyment of life and attainment, including right to life and human dignity, encompasses within its ambit availability of articles of food without insecticides or pesticides residues, veterinary drugs residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, etc.”

The NHRC has now issued notices to the chairperson of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, and secretaries in charge of food and agriculture in all States.

All of them have been asked to inform, within eight weeks, about the action taken to minimise residue level in vegetables, foods, meat and spices.

Justice Murugesan said that though it was the paramount duty of the State and its authorities to achieve an appropriate level for protection of human life and health, a fundamental right, reports of rampant use of pesticides continued to pour in.

According to the reports, harmful chemicals are present in alarmingly high doses in food items across the country, with the highest number of failed samples being that of vegetables.

The situation is reportedly said to be more alarming in New Delhi and Mumbai.

Of the 629 samples analysed in the national Capital, 223 reportedly contained residues while 20 of them had levels above the permitted residue level.

Among the 1,149 samples collected in Mumbai and Kolkata, 352 contained residue, while 22 reported levels above the permitted.