Widespread Reuse Of Cooking Oil Across India Poses Serious Health Risks: NHRC Sounds Alarm, Seeks Report From FSSAI|Image: Pixabay
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)has actually taken cognisance of a problem highlighting the disconcerting and prevalent practice of recycling cooking oil throughout India, describing it a prospective infraction of human rights due to its major public health and ecological ramifications.
The grievance, submitted by the Founder of Sarthak Samudayik Vikas Evam Jan Kalyan Sanstha (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh), raised issues that regardless of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI ) “RUCO – Repurpose Used Cooking Oil” project and policies promoting biodiesel at little hotels, roadside dining establishments, and food suppliers continue to consistently recycle or resell utilized cooking oil.
According to the problem, this practice postures “severe public health risks, including cancer, heart diseases and liver disorders.” It even more warned that incorrectly disposed of oil pollutes water and soil, causing ecological contamination and long-lasting environmental damage.
“The complainant looked for immediate intervention of the Commission in the matter and needed to consider it as a human rights problem impacting public health, and to direct enforcement companies (FSSAI, Pollution Control Boards, local authorities) to strictly carry out guidelines, develop authorised oil filtration and reuse centres, and launch awareness projects to sensitise residents about the threats of recycled cooking oil.”
After examining the problem, the NHRC Bench headed by Member Priyank Kanoongo provided a notification under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to the Chairman of the FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The Commission directed the FSSAI to perform a query into the accusations and send a comprehensive state-wise Action Taken Report (ATR) within 2 weeks.