SC notice on pesticide levels in food

The Supreme Court issued notices on a PIL to five ministries today, seeking ban on use of dangerous pesticides as their unregulated use has contaminated food items including wheat, milk, fish, tea and edible oil.

A bench issued notice to Ministries of Agriculture, Chemical, Fertiliser and Petrochemicals, Health and Family Welfare, Environment and Forests and Food and Consumer Affairs after hearing Counsel Colin Gonsalves for petitioner NGO Srishti. The petitioner stated there was an alarming level of pesticides contamination of food, water and soil and said the entire issue needed urgent attention.