Food safety and toxins

Contaminated Honey reaches Rajya Sabha

Minister of state for agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Prof K V Thomas in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on CSE’s report also stated that the European Union had banned the export of honey from India, on account of positive detection of heavy metals and other contaminants, reported in the Residual Monitoring Plan.

Antibiotics in honey

Ayurveda prescribes it for a range of ailments. People eat it for rejuvenation and boosting immunity. An Indian homemaker’s kitchen shelf is incomplete without a jar of this amber liquid. But without quality and safety controls, this gift of nature has been contaminated. CSE laboratory tests find high levels of antibiotics in well-known brands of honey sold in the market.

CSE lab study: Busting the myth about ‘pure and natural’ honey

A latest study by CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Lab finds antibiotic contamination in honey; investigations by Down To Earth points to double standards in regulations as foreign brands sold in India also have contamination

Press Release: CSE stands by its report on honey, debunks Australian honeymaker’s claims

New Delhi, September 18, 2010:
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has come out with a strong rebuttal of claims made by Capilano, the Australian honey producing firm, which has rejected the tests on honey conducted by CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Lab.

CSE "picketed" by pesticide industry employees

Today the pesticide industry sent four employees to ‘picket’ our office. We know that they were employees because when asked, they told us “We work at United Phosphorus Limited” a major producer of pesticides and added further “we have been sent here by our boss”. They brought with them posters and slogans. We offered them water, tea and chairs to sit on.

Photos for Media

1. Download Hires	2. Download Hires

Radiation leak in West Delhi

Cobalt 60 injured five, investigations under way

Jyotika Sood, Ankur Paliwal

Bt Brinjal: why we should not make a mash of it

The minister for environment and forests has announced his decision on Bt-brinjal – whether the world’s first genetically modified vegetable should be given permission to be grown and eaten in the country. And before I discuss the issues further, let me also make my own bias clear. I am not an anti-GM-person. In other words, I have no ideological problems with the use of genetically modified technology to improve crop yields. But I am anti-Bt-brinjal and believe the minister is right in not  giving clearance.

Moratorium on Bt brinjal: Jairam Ramesh

SAVVY SOUMYA MISRA

On February 9, minister of state for environment Jairam Ramesh announced an indefinite moratorium on introducing Bt brinjal—the first genetically modified crop for mass production in India. In doing so, he overruled the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) that had approved commercial cultivation of the food crop on October 14, 2009.

Press Release: CSE supports environment minister on Bt-brinjal

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has come out in support of the verdict on Bt-brinjal given here today by Jairam Ramesh, minister of state (independent charge) for environment and forests.