Source: The post Decisions on mustard oil shape India’s public health future has been created, based on the article “A ban, a split verdict, and a health concern” published in “The Hindu” on 4 June 2025. Decisions on mustard oil shape India’s public health future.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Agriculture And bio-technology
Context: Two major decisions—the 2021 FSSAI ban on blended mustard oil and the 2024 Supreme Court ruling against GM mustard (DMH-11)—aimed to protect public health. However, these actions alone may not fully address the health concerns caused by high erucic acid levels in Indian mustard oil.
Regulatory Actions and Their Objectives
- FSSAI Ban on Blending: The FSSAI banned manufacturing and sale of blended mustard oil from June 2021 to curb adulteration and boost domestic mustard production. Indian law permits up to 20% blending with other oils, but this was disallowed for mustard oil.
- Supreme Court on GM Mustard: In July 2024, the Supreme Court invalidated the government’s approval for GM mustard DMH-11, citing insufficient health impact evaluation.
- Common Health Goal: Both actions aimed to protect mustard oil consumers’ health, but key challenges remain unaddressed.
Health Risks from Erucic Acid
- Excessive Levels in Indian Mustard: Indian mustard oil contains 40–54% erucic acid, far exceeding the global standard of <5%. This raises health concerns in many countries.
- Animal Study Findings: Lab tests show high erucic acid causes heart problems, organ damage, and growth issues in animals. While human effects remain unproven, the oil faces global stigma.
- Global Practice: Countries like Canada and Europe use canola oil, which has less than 2% erucic acid.
Blending: Challenges and Possibilities
- Nutritional Benefits: Blended mustard oil lowers erucic acid content and improves the fatty acid profile, reducing LDL and increasing HDL cholesterol.
- Adulteration Concerns: FSSAI’s 2020 survey found 24.21% of oil samples, especially mustard oil, failed quality standards due to adulteration.
- Better Regulation, Not Ban: Blended oil should be allowed in sealed, branded form with clear labelling. State-level enforcement and food safety infrastructure must be strengthened.
Promise of GM Mustard
- DMH-11’s Advantages: DMH-11 offers higher yield and 30–35% erucic acid, lower than traditional mustard. This reduces blending needs and edible oil imports.
- Health and Economic Gains: With India’s edible oil import bill at $20.56 billion, promoting GM mustard can reduce dependence on imports.
- Long-Term Priority: India must develop mustard crops with <5% erucic acid to meet global health standards and ensure public safety.
Question for practice:
Examine how the two major decisions on mustard oil—FSSAI’s blending ban and the Supreme Court’s ruling on GM mustard—impact public health and edible oil policy in India.
