A ban, a split verdict, and a health concern, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• FSSAI banned the manufacture and sale of blended mustard oil in India from June 8, 2021.
• Supreme Court ruling (July 23, 2024) denied approval for GM mustard DMH-11, citing health impact concerns.
• Indian mustard oil contains 40-54% erucic acid, far above the global safety threshold of <5%.
• Blended mustard oil helps reduce erucic acid but raises risks of adulteration and contamination.
• FSSAI’s 2020 survey found 24.21% of edible oil samples failed quality norms, with mustard oil leading in adulteration.
• DMH-11 GM mustard has 30–35% erucic acid and higher yield, potentially reducing edible oil imports.
• India’s edible oil import bill stands at $20.56 billion (NITI Aayog).

Detailed Insights:

• High erucic acid in mustard oil is linked to animal health hazards; human effects are not conclusively established, yet remain a global concern.
• Blending mustard oil with other oils reduces erucic acid and improves lipid profile but is often poorly regulated in India.
• Total ban on blended mustard oil may be counterproductive; branded, clearly labelled blends could balance safety and nutrition.
• GM mustard (DMH-11), while not ideal, marks progress in lowering erucic acid levels and enhancing self-reliance in edible oils.
• Current decisions fail to holistically address the public health and economic challenges tied to mustard oil consumption.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Erucic Acid: A monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, potentially toxic at high levels.
• Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Crops engineered for desired traits such as higher yield or improved nutritional profile.
• Canola Oil: A low-erucic acid variant of rapeseed oil developed in Canada, widely accepted for human consumption.

Mains Mock Question:

Critically examine India’s regulatory approach toward mustard oil consumption in light of decisions on oil blending and GM mustard. Suggest a way forward to balance health, economic, and agricultural priorities.