By IANS,
New Delhi : With the use of chemicals like oxytocin and copper sulphate to ripen fruits and vegetables becoming a matter of concern, Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi Thursday told parliament that research on the long-term impact of the chemicals on people’s health will be undertaken soon.
“A combined research will be done by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) to find out the long term impact of the chemicals being used in fruits and vegetables on health,” Trivedi said, replying to a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha on sale of vegetables and food injected with medicines and adulteration of other food items.
Responding to the concerns raised by the members over the increasing use of chemicals, he said that states have been instructed to maintain a strict vigilance.
“The state food authorities have also been advised to be vigilant against such malpractices and take preventive measures, including random collection of samples of vegetables and fruits at regular intervals,” Trivedi said.
The minister said that 73 labs to check such adulteration were already operating across the country and anyone can approach then.
“We are also planning to start mobile vans for checking food adulteration,” he added.
Responding to a suggestion by some members on making laws providing for harsh punishment for such practices, the minister such provisions will soon be brought under the food safety act.