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The
issue of pesticides in soft drinks
has opened up many areas of concern. To me, when I read about
extremely high levels of pesticides 36 times higher in Pepsi and
30 times higher in Coke than the EEC limit in soft drinks, it
appears that some big companies are adding pesticides to their
soft drinks or are adulterating it in some other way to further
their interests. A closer look reveals that these pesticides are
a part of ground water contamination. The same water when used
as an ingredient to make soft drinks carries the pesticide residue.
Pesticide Residues are universal contaminants like DDT, Lindane,
Malathion etc. that generally persist in all foods including human
milk either in the chemical form in which they are used or in
the form of their metabolites. Pesticides form a part of the “toxic
trail” whereby the pesticide residues come from the soil, get
mixed with water and persist in the environment. Their contamination
in food or drink reflects an indiscriminate use of pesticides-
of pesticides banned years ago in India and improper farm and
industrial waste disposal. There is absolutely no reason for them
to be found in such levels in our environment. The concern today is not contamination of colas with pesticides, rather it concerns the safety of whole lot of other commonly consumed food products and drinking water including breast milk. In 1986, ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) found that 51% of the food items it tested were contaminated with pesticide residues and 20% of these had pesticides above the maximum residue limit (MRL). For e.g.: Cereals: CERC reported that most of the wheat flour brands in India are contaminated with pesticides like Lindane (which should be absent), DDT, aldrin (banned in 1996) and dieldrin (restricted to use).
It
is certainly surprising that it has not been addressed as a generic
issue and has been confined to soft drinks only. Targeting such
big companies seem to become big debate and perhaps derive bigger
gains. Cola drinks are already under attack as a part of the “anti
obesity drive” being empty calories, high on sugar and predisposing
to weight gain concerns which surely are not misplaced and totally
justified.
There
is no reason to neglect the traces of pesticides however small
the amount may be found in our food or beverages. Over the years
these chemicals accumulate in our bodies and harm our health and
the wellbeing of our future generations. They are called cumulative
poisons i.e. they poison slowly and insidiously. They also poison
synergistically where the combined effect exceeds the sum total
of individual effect. Pesticides
like DDT, Lindane, Malathion, Chlorpyrifos etc. are known to cause
cancers, damage nervous system, reproductive system, cause birth
defects, disrupt immune system and reduce bone density, to name
a few.
It’s
not the time to talk about pesticides only, rather we need to
talk about food safety on the whole, and take into account the
numerous other chemical contaminants including those due to heavy
metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, fluorine, nitrate, nitrites,
phosphate etc. Standards for such serious poisons such as heavy
metals like arsenic and lead also are many times above the guidelines
for drinking water issued by the ministry of urban development;
Cadmium is not even legislated. Working with loose ended Rules
& Regulations such as : Rule 65 of PFA, 1954, regulates the
presence of pesticides and insecticides in food. But “Food” is
so defined in Rule 65 so as to exclude “beverages” and has created
intricate issues like these.
Sub section A.01.01 in Appendix B defines the standards
of quality for non-alcoholic beverages, but has nothing to say
about pesticide residues. This act is mandatory, but doesn’t regulate
pesticide residues.
The
bottom line is that in India, the food industry is virtually unregulated,
leave alone the regulation of soft drinks. The positive side of
such controversies is that they help bring consumer awareness
and interest in issues as important as these which have been neglected
over the years. A multi pronged approach is necessary to address
these issues some of which are mentioned below: National
Policy Makers
must strengthen regulations and make the laws more stringent and
clear taking in view of: ·
Food safety as a whole. ·
Use of pesticides: Establishment of safety
levels (MRL), ·
Regular monitoring of foods and pesticide
residues ·
Establishment of multi centre organizations
involving research, education and regulation.
Healthy
and Safe farming: Go organic; it helps to reduce the pesticide
load and reduces exposure to many other harmful chemicals. Government
and NGO’s to educate and encourage farmers to convert into
organic, subsidizing and providing support incentives. Strengthen
nutritional antioxidant status to combat poisoning. Choose whole
grains, fruits and vegetables and minimally processed foods rich
in micronutrients. Vitamin C, E Chromium and zinc have been found
to be helpful in detoxifying the chemical contamination.
by consuming healthy and safe food. |
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