The video discusses the issue of Indian food products containing high levels of toxic chemicals, including ethylene oxide, which has been linked to cancer. The narrator cites several examples of Indian products, including spices and other food items, that have been banned in various countries due to excessive levels of ethylene oxide. The narrator also criticizes the Indian government, particularly the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), for not taking adequate steps to address the issue and for increasing the permissible limit of pesticides in food products by 10 times.
The narrator further highlights that the problem is not limited to ethylene oxide, but also includes other toxic chemicals, such as Chlorpyrifos, which has been found in Indian turmeric and other products. The narrator also mentions that the European Union has a zero-tolerance policy for ethylene oxide and that other countries have stricter regulations regarding food safety.
The narrator also points out that the Indian government's decision to increase the permissible limit of pesticides is not based on scientific evidence, but rather on the interests of pesticide companies. The narrator also criticizes the government for not doing enough to protect farmers, who are often forced to use toxic pesticides by companies.
The narrator concludes by saying that the true solution to the problem lies with the government, which needs to introduce stricter regulations and stop taking kickbacks from companies. The narrator also suggests that individuals can take steps to promote organic food and buy produce directly from farmers to ensure quality.
Some of the key points mentioned in the video include:
* Indian food products, including spices and other items, have been found to contain high levels of toxic chemicals, including ethylene oxide.
* Ethylene oxide has been linked to cancer and is banned in many countries.
* The Indian government, particularly the FSSAI, has not taken adequate steps to address the issue.
* The government has increased the permissible limit of pesticides in food products by 10 times, which is not based on scientific evidence.
* The problem is not limited to ethylene oxide, but also includes other toxic chemicals, such as Chlorpyrifos.
* Other countries have stricter regulations regarding food safety, including the European Union, which has a zero-tolerance policy for ethylene oxide.
* The government needs to introduce stricter regulations and stop taking kickbacks from companies to address the issue.
* Individuals can take steps to promote organic food and buy produce directly from farmers to ensure quality.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Hong Kong's Food Safety Centre issued a notification on 5th April, 2024, naming 3 spice mixes from MDH and 1 from Everest that contained high levels of ethylene oxide.
2. Ethylene oxide is a chemical that has been linked to cancer and is banned in many countries.
3. Singapore's Food Agency conducted independent testing and found ethylene oxide in Everest's Fish Curry Masala.
4. As of 4th May, 2024, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives have banned these spice mixes in their countries.
5. Australia, New Zealand, and Nepal's food agencies are testing these spice mixes independently and may ban them soon.
6. Between 2020 and 2023, the European Union rejected or banned 527 Indian products, including spices, nuts, seeds, herbs, and more, due to the presence of ethylene oxide.
7. The US Customs authorities have sent back 31% of MDH spices imported into America, citing the presence of Salmonella.
8. The Modi government increased the permissible levels of pesticides by 10 times in April 2024.
9. The European Union has a zero-tolerance policy for ethylene oxide and has banned its use in food production.
10. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans.
11. In Singapore, the maximum allowed limit of ethylene oxide is 50 milligrams per kilogram, which is 500 times higher than the limit in Europe.
12. Hong Kong has stricter regulations and does not allow the use of ethylene oxide in food production.
13. The European Food Safety Agency has reported finding ethylene oxide in various Indian products, including sesame seeds, cumin seeds, and animal feed.
14. The Pesticide Action Network India found that 255 out of 275 pesticides used in India are toxic poisons, and 56 are carcinogenic.
15. According to BMC Public Health data, globally, 11,000 farmers lose their lives every year due to pesticides, with 6,500 of them being from India.
16. The Indian government has delayed taking action on banning pesticides, with only 12 out of 66 pesticides being banned in 2019.
17. The government has raised the permissible limit for some pesticides, citing the need to allow imported food with higher levels of pesticides.
18. The Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers opposed the ban on 27 pesticides, leading to a U-turn by the central government.
19. The government has been accused of giving a free hand to FMCG companies and pesticide companies, allowing them to exploit Indian standards.
20. Food safety activist "Food Pharmer" has exposed numerous products across multiple companies, including Nestle, KitKat, and Cadbury, for having high levels of sodium and other unhealthy ingredients.