SC Takes Aim: Centre and FSSAI in Spotlight Over Pesticide Overuse in Food

The Supreme Court has summoned responses from the Centre and FSSAI regarding concerns raised over pesticide usage in food. The bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued notices to multiple ministries, including Environment, Health, Agriculture, and FSSAI. The petition, filed by environmentalist and lawyer Akash Vashishtha, highlights the link between pesticide-laden foods and rising cancer rates and other health issues nationwide.

The petition highlighted the excessive use of pesticides, chemical insecticides, artificial coloring, coating, and waxing on food crops and items, attributing them to a significant number of deaths nationwide. It emphasized that consuming pesticide-laden foods has emerged as the leading cause of cancers and fatal illnesses in the country.

Representing the petitioner, senior advocate Anitha Shenoy informed the Supreme Court that extensive data has been collected nationwide, illustrating a substantial death toll due to pesticide-related issues.

Shenoy informed the Supreme Court of the FSSAI’s profound failure to regulate pesticides effectively to uphold food safety standards. She underscored a clear scientific and medical connection between pesticides and the escalating incidence of cancer across the nation.