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PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK NORTH AMERICA UPDATES SERVICE
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Report Documents Pesticides in Indian Milk
Oktober 1, 1994
In India, a seven year study of pesticide residues in milk in
12 Indian states has attracted considerable public concern.
The study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),
found that a high proportion of milk food samples -- bovine,
human and other -- had residues of HCH and DDT above
government-established tolerance limits. Both HCH and DDT
are on the Pesticide Action Network InternationalUs list of
Dirty Dozen Pesticides.
A meeting held in July 1994 to discuss the report,
Surveillance of Food Contaminants in India 1993, was
attended by a number of prominent activists, scientists,
social scientists and politicians. The meeting, organized
by a non-governmental organization in Delhi, was the
brainchild of Maneka Gandhi (former Indian Environment
Minister), who is known for her environmental and public
interest work. Former Prime Minister VP Singh also attended
the seminar.
The report, based on work carried out at six government food
testing labs, examined bovine and infant milk foods which
were analyzed for DDT and HCH. Analysis was extended to the
presence of metal and aflatoxins for other food samples.
Unlike similar government reports, this document was widely
circulated and attracted much public attention, especially
since it focused on milk -- an important source of nutrition
particularly for the young and elderly. Over 50% of India's
800 million population are vegetarians who consider milk an
important part of their diet, and who often drink milk
during illness and convalescence.
Dr. G.S. Totefa, who summed up the ICMR report, pointed out
that of the 2,205 samples of bovine milk, 85% of the samples
contained levels of HCH isomers (alpha, beta, gamma or
delta) above the tolerance limits. In the case of gamma-
HCH, 28% of samples were above the tolerance limit of .01
mg/kg as set out under the Prevention of Food Adulteration
Act for whole milk.
The highest levels of HCH contamination were documented in
the state of Andhra Pradesh, followed by Bihas and Uttar
Pradesh. In Maharashtra, 74% of DDT samples exceeded the
upper limit. Of the 186 samples of baby foods taken from 20
commercial brands, DDT was present in about 70% of the
samples, and HCH in 94%. Out of 32 Indian states, 25 had
not been taking residue samples from milk when the report
was issued.
At the July meeting, participants noted that there had been
no prosecutions or warnings issued since permissible limits
of pesticide residues were established in 1968, and that no
pesticide limits had been set for animal feedstuff, water,
air or soil.
The seminar adopted a ten point resolution pointing out that
the level of pesticides in milk is intolerable and dangerous
to human health, and that the government has been generally
apathetic -- particularly regarding research and development
into alternatives to dangerous pesticides. Participants
expressed concern for the environment and for protecting the
generations to come, and voiced support for farmers and NGOs
who promote sustainable ecological farming.
Source: Pesticides News (the journal of the Pesticides
Trust, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ, UK),
September 1994. Contact: A.T. Dudani, President, Society for
Citizen Concerns, C-35 Panchsheel Enclave, New Delhi, 11017,
India.
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The Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS) is a
pesticide-related news service posted weekly by the Pesticide
Action Network North America Regional Center (PANNA). PANNA
is located at 116 New Montgomery Street, #810, San Francisco,
CA 94105. Tel: (415) 541-9140. Fax: (415) 541-9253. To
receive a standard information packet about the Pesticide
Action Network send a short e-mail message to panna-
info@igc.apc.org.
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