This document discusses several issues with the current food system that can make food unsafe for consumption. It notes problems like pesticide use, food processing practices, and changing diets. Specifically, it outlines that pesticide residues are commonly found in many foods and water sources in India at levels that exceed safety limits. It also discusses the health impacts of consuming highly processed junk foods and snacks that are high in salt, sugar, and fat. The food system needs reform to make food safer and more nutritious for the population.

1. We are what we eat

2. What makes food unsafe?
• bad practices (poor hygiene, reliance on
antibiotics and pesticides)
• unproven or risky technologies (genetic
modification, nanotechnology, irradiation,
cloning)
• deliberate contamination (such as tampering)
• just poor supervision,
• Genetic predisposition causing allergies, and
• Food habits including the combinations

3. Food is as safe as it is grown
•What is sprayed comes to your
plate
•What is left comes into your
bottle of water, tea, coffee,
softdrink, packed or breast milk

4. Pesticides are poisons
• Bhopal gas tragedy and Endosulfan
poisoning in Kerala killed and
effected lives of millions of people
and poisoning continues
• Nagarjuna chemicals in Srikakulam
• During 2005 studies show that more
than 500 people died spraying
pesticides in Warangal district alone
• Only 99 % of the pesticide sprayed
is useless and spreads in air mixes
in soil and water
• CSE study showed that farmers
blood in Punjab, Vegetables in
Delhi, Hyderabad, soft drinks and
bottled water across the country
pesticide residues beyond toxic
limits
• Pesticides constitute 40% to 60% of
Cost of Cultivation in many crops…

5. Pesticide residues in your food and water
• Pesticides used in production of crops and
storage are retained as residues in your food
• Pesticide residues also contaminate all sources of
fresh water, seen in bottled water and soft drinks
• Body Burden defined as the total pesticide
residue in a human is the highest in India
• Breast milk has pesticide residues beyond
tolerant limits
• 51% of the food in India is contaminated with
Pesticide Residues
• Products like Chillies that are never washed
contain heavy does of Pesticides in them

6. NIN found 18 pesticides in
Hyderabad vegetables, Feb’ 2012
•Atrazine
•Propanil
•Imidacloprid
•Triazophos
•Ethion
•Monochrotophos
•Quinalphos
•Metribuzin
•Cholrpyrifos
• Chlorfenvinphos
• Diazinon
• Phosalone
• Fenitrothione
• Acephate
• Simazine
•Malathion
• Alachlor
• Aldicarb
Binjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomato, Bendi

7. Bio-accumulation and Bio-magnification
• Bio-accumulation is the phenomenon when an organism absorbs a
toxin at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost. For
instance, when the half life period (the time that it takes to
disintegrate or get destroyed by half) is very long, bio-accumulation
poses a greater risk of chronic poisoning by that toxin. Those chemicals
that are lipid-soluble (fat-soluble) also create bio-accumulation
especially in women with more fat-tissue, for example.
• Bio-magnification, on the other hand, is the increase in the
concentration of a pesticide along the food chain (pesticides ending up
in water bodies ending up in fish, eaten by birds, eaten further down
by animals and then by humans etc.). The substances become
concentrated in tissues or internal organs as they move up the chain.
This phenomenon of buildup is usually connected with persistence,
slow metabolisation and excretion often due to water insolubility etc.
• While bio-accumulation occurs within an organism, bio-magnification
occurs across food chain

8. What reports say?
1999 AICRPPR Report had the following findings for instance:
• 20% samples exceed MRLs (all commodities included)
• Finds fruits, vegetables and milk to be highly contaminated
• In states like UP and Kerala, more than 40% fruits and vegetable samples
exceeded MRLs – finds monocrotophos, DDVP and Methyl Parathion as
most prevalent – all 3 WHO class I pesticides
• Finds 78% milk samples exceeding HCH MRL and 43.4% exceeding DDT
MRL
2001 AICRPPR Report:
• Again finds high contamination levels in fruits and vegetables – 61%
contaminated – 11.7% failed MRLs
• In milk, contamination still high – 15.2% failed HCH MRL and 7.7% failed
DDT MRL.
• Finds new pesticides like Endosulfan, chlorpyrifos and chlorthalonil in
milk.

9. Who regulates whom?
• In 2003, CSE findings on pesticides in bottled water in India, followed by
another analysis on pesticides in soft drinks
• Fourth time in Indian history and for the first time on health and food safety, a
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was set up to look into Pesticide Residues in
and Safety Standards for Soft Drinks, Fruit Juice and other beverages
• Ministry of Agriculture’s scheme called “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at
National Level” (started in 2005-06, with 21 labs representing various ministries)
The main findings of this monitoring scheme for 2010-2011 are:
• Out of a total of 15321 samples analysed, residues were detected in 1044 or 6.8%
of samples; out of this, residues were detected above maximum residue limit in
188 or 1.2% of samples.
• 11.5% of the 5170 vegetable samples were contaminated, with 2.3% being above
MRL; only 0.9% of 2062 fruit samples were found to fail MRLs.
• None of the fish/other marine product samples or CTC tea or pulses samples or
milk/meat/eggs/honey/soil samples were found to be contaminated.
• These findings however do not reflect or resonate with the findings from various
independent studies from around the country, including from various
government/public sector institutions.

10. Regulation a mess….
• Ministry of Agriculture’s scheme called “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level”
(started in 2005-06, with 21 labs representing various ministries). These findings however
do not reflect or resonate with the findings from various independent studies from around
the country, including from various government/public sector institutions. To this day, many
export consignments being rejected…..
• Ministry of Agriculture promotes pesticides and also regulates them - conflict of interest….
• Pesticides are registered without checking whether alternatives exist…..
• Pesticides registration is not based on long-term independent testing…..
• Officials have been caught taking bribes for registering…..
• Maximum Residue Limits fixed without thinking about average dietary intake, where it is
usually manifold higher than the “Acceptable Daily Intake” - ADI is not part of regulation!
• They say ‘indiscriminate use’ by farmers; but we found ‘indiscriminate recommendations’ by
industry and govt depts, including of restricted pesticides illegally
• Most importantly, we are exposed to a cocktail of pesticides - no amount of testing can even
begin asking the right questions for research on synergistic effects of all of these toxins!

11. GM foods

12. Food processing, storage
• Highly polished rice-diabetes
• Calcium carbide used
in ripening
• Wax coated apples
• Transfats in edible
oils

13. Food Adulteration
• Synthetic milk
• Metalic colors on
greens
• Growth hormones to
fruits and animals
• Animal oils
• Turmeric,
chillipowder, tea
adulteration

14. Changing Food Habits
• Loosing diversity in food
• Millets, minor fruits, vegetables disappearing
• Unseasonal vegetable
• Pizzas, softdrinks, icecreams
• Unnatural combinations: cooldrinks/ice
creams after fatty food

15. Junk food
• Junk food is bad for health
• It lacks nutrition and is loaded with empty calories
(refined carbohydrates)
• High on Salt, Sugar and Fats, including Trans fat
• Unhealthy diet is one key cause of the growing global
burden of disease-WHO
• Changing diet -- low on nutrients and high on salt,
sugar and fat, are directly indicted to disease.
• Junk food is responsible for rising cases of obesity and
non communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular
diseases and diabetes

16. Salt in your food
• The amount of dietary salt consumed is an
important determinant of blood pressure
levels and overall cardiovascular risk.
• WHO recommends salt intake of less than 5
grams per person per day; NIN recommends 6
gm
• India has a serious salt problem; more than
40% population consume above 10 gm/day

17. Nutritional guidelines
• Fats: 15-30% of total calories
• Trans fats: Max. 1% of total calories
• Carbohydrates: 55-75% of total calories
• Proteins: 10- 15% of total calories
• Sugar: 20-25 gm/day added sugar
• Salt: 5-6 gm/day
Person Kilo
calories
allowed/
day
Carbohydrate
(gm/day)
Salt
(gm/day)
Total fats
(gm/day)
Transfats
(gm/day)
Adult male 2,320 290-348 6.0 39-78 2.6
Adult female 1,900 263-315 6.0 35-70 2.1
Children (10-12 yr) 2,100 238-285 6.0 32-64 2.3

18. Potato chips
• Total fats: 33 gm
• Carbs: 57.5 gm
• Trans fats:
• 0.6 gm (Bingo Oye Pudina)
• 3.7 gm (Lay’s American style cream & onion, March, 2012 batch)
• Salt:
• 1.2 gm (Lay’s American style cream & onion
• 3.5 gm (Uncle chips Spicy Treat)
What these numbers mean?
Values per 100 gm
• Munching a standard-sized packet (65-75gm); finish about half of the daily fats
quota.
• Munching a packet of Lays March, 2012 batch will exceed Trans fat quota
• And a packet of Uncle Chips Spicy Treat 60-70% salt quota
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

19. Indian Snacks
Total fats: 36 gm
Carbs: 50 gm
Trans fats:
• 0.7 gm (Kurkure masala munch)
• 2.5 gm (Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia)
Salt:
• 1.6 gm (Kurkure masala)
• 3.3 gm (Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia)
What these numbers mean?
* Values per 100 gm
• Highly fatty food; Don’t eat too much Aloo Bhujia – will get heavy dose of salt and
Trans fat
• Eating a packet of Kurkure will exhaust one-third of your calorie quota and two-third
of your total fat quota
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

20. Carbonated drinks
Carbs:
• 14 gm (Pepsi Cola)
• 14.8 gm (Coca-Cola)
They say all of it is Sugar
What these numbers mean?
* Values per 100 gm
• A 300 ml bottle will have over 40 gm sugar;
consumption of a single bottle will exhaust your
added sugar quota almost twice over
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

22. Instant noodles
Total fats:
• 14 gm
Carbs:
• 72 gm
Trans fats:
• 0.6 gm (Masala Maggi)
• 0.7 gm (Top Ramen, Super Noodles)
Salt:
• 4.2 gm (Masala Maggi)
• 3.2 gm (Top Ramen, Super Noodles)
What these numbers mean?
* Values per 100 gm
• Highly salty food with lots of empty calories; 70% of calories is just from refined
carbohydrates
• Eating a packet will exhaust more than half of your daily salt quota
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

23. Burgers
• Total fats: 10.5 gm in veg --- 13.5 gm in non-veg
• Carbs: 33 gm in non-veg --- 43 gm in veg
• Trans fats: 0.4 gm
• Salt: 1.2 gm in non-veg – 1.8 gm in veg
What these numbers mean?
• Highly salty food with lots of empty calories; non-veg
high on fat (40-45%); veg high on refined
carbs (55%)
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

24. Fries
• Total fats: 20 gm
• Carbs: 56 gm
• Trans fats: 1.6 gm
• Salt: 0.4 gm; Add to taste
What these numbers mean?
• Rich in Trans fat; a medium fries (about 150
gm) will exceed your safe limit for Trans fat
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

25. Pizzas
• Total fats: 7 gm
• Carbs: 50 gm
• Trans fats: 0.1 gm
• Salt: 1 gm
* Values per 100 gm
What these numbers mean?
• Low on fat, salt and Trans fat; high on refined
carbs --- only the basic version
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

26. Chicken fries
• Total fats: 23.4 gm
• Carbs: 14 gm
• Trans fats: 0.7 gm
• Salt: 0.9 gm
What these numbers mean?
• A two piece KFC chicken (about 250 gm) will
exceed your Trans fat and total fat
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

27. r
Carbs sugar fats
TransfTats salts % of daily need
• This meal will stuff you with fats and trans
fats, and take care of 60-70% of your calorie
requirement for the day
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

28. Carbs sugar fats
Transfats salts % of daily need
Study done by CSE, New Delhi March 30, 2012

29. Food Laws
Food laws in our country
The Indian Parliament has recently passed the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006 that overrides all other food related laws.
Such as;
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
Fruit Products Order,1955
Meat Food Products Order ,1973;
Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order 1988
Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control)
Order, 1967,
Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 etc are repealed
after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.

30. 2004
Commnity Managed Sustainable Agricutlure in
Andhra Pradesh
2004-05 started with 225 acres in one dist and
reached 7 lakh acres in 2007-08 in 18 dist. today
the prog covers 20 lakh acres in 18 dist
World Bank says this is a good tool for poverty
eradication
With 50 % development expenditure one can
double the incomes of the farmers
2009
2006

31. Farmers and area covered under CMSA
pilot
RKVY funds
CSA handholding support
NGOs technical support at field level
MKSP funds
* Planned intervertion
SHG groups ind. handling
…aiming to reach 100 lakh acres across crops in all districts of AP in by 2014

32. Who benefits from your purchase
• Farmer gets Rs 15 for each kg of rice you
purchase at Rs 35
• Farmer gets Rs 30 for each Kg of Toor Dal you
purchase at Rs 80
• In case of other foods the farmer’s share is
similar or lesser.
• In processed foods farmers share is less than
10% and the rest goes to the Industry,
advertising and sales.
• Your purchases in retail chains go towards
energy-hogging facilities like air-conditioned
stores, cold storages and transportation all of
which have a huge ecological cost.

33. YOUR CHOICES CAN IMPROVE YOUR
HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT AND
LIVELIHOODS

34. How your choice of food impacts
livelihoods?
•What you buy is what is grown
•Where and from whom you buy determines the farmers’ share in
your rupee
• Today farmers income is less than Rs. 20/- a day
• Perpetual losses and indebtedness is driving farmers suicide
• 16 of the 32 crisis ridden districts are in AP

35. My Home Garden

36. What can YOU do?
• Leave a missed call at 022 3301 0031
• Sign a petition online :
www.indiaforsafefood.in/sendpetition
• Volunteer in the campaign and get more people to
sign the petition….
• Spread the word through facebook, twitter & other
social media
• Shift to organic consumption & support farmers to
take up sustainable farming….
• Take up terrace/balcony gardening for yourself and
your family…..
• Visit WWW.INDIAFORSAFEFOOD.IN for more info….

37. www.indiaforsafefood.in
www.csa-india.org
www.agrariancrisis.in
Facebook: ramoo.csa; indiaforsafefood
SAFE FARMING FOR SAFE FOOD