- Minister informs Parliament officially
- Food safety compliance questioned
Article Today, New Delhi:
The Patanjali Foods brand has come under scrutiny after the Union Minister of State for Health informed the Lok Sabha that samples of Patanjali red chilli powder contained pesticide residues beyond prescribed limits. The minister, Prataprao Jadhav, made the disclosure in a written reply on food safety submitted to Parliament earlier this week. The samples were traced to a unit located in Uttarakhand.
Findings from Official Tests
According to the minister’s statement, the product did not conform to food safety standards due to excess chemical residues. The disclosure was made as part of routine monitoring under food safety regulations. In addition, the minister noted that samples of products from other brands, including Amul, did not show the presence of harmful chemicals in similar tests.
Food Safety Norms Invoked
The presence of pesticide residues beyond permissible levels constitutes a violation of food safety and quality regulations. The minister clarified that enforcement of these norms is carried out under the framework of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. However, the reply did not specify the timeline for corrective action or penalties, if any, against the manufacturer.
Past Regulatory Concerns
The disclosure comes against the backdrop of earlier regulatory action involving Patanjali products. During the COVID period, the Supreme Court had taken note of misleading claims related to health benefits made by the company. The court had directed the firm to halt such advertisements and had summoned its promoters for non compliance with earlier directions.
Oversight and Accountability
Meanwhile, questions have been raised about regulatory oversight in the manufacture and distribution of widely consumed food products. Food safety enforcement is a shared responsibility of the Centre and the States. Therefore, the latest findings are likely to prompt closer monitoring and follow up action by concerned authorities to ensure consumer safety.
