Pesticides in Fruits and Vegetables Must be Checked: Experts

In Jaipur, Rajasthan there is no process in place to monitor the quality of fruits and vegetables.

"We can detect adulteration in squashes, murabba, mango chutney, tomato ketchup, brewed and synthetic vinegar, jam, and jelly. Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are exempt from testing.

Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are exempt from testing. There is no risk of adulteration because fruits and vegetables are in their natural state," a health department official stated.

Apart from inspecting milk products, sweets, and edible oils, health experts recommend inspecting the quality of vegetables and fruits to see how much pesticide chemicals are present throughout their development and ripening. If chemicals are repeatedly introduced into the digestive system, they build up and can cause intestine difficulties, liver dysfunction, and cancer, according to Dr Sudhir Maharshi, assistant professor of gastroenterology at SMS Hospital.

Insecticides, often known as pesticides, are frequently used by farmers to prevent insects from destroying or consuming their crops.

Pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables settle on the outer peel or skin, but the skin is not impermeable, and certain pesticides are designed to be absorbed into the tissue of the fruit or vegetable to protect it against insects that penetrate the skin to suck out the liquid within.

Increased pesticide usage in fruits and vegetables can result in both acute and chronic health impacts, which might occur months or years after exposure. Stinging eyes, rashes, blisters, blindness, nausea, dizziness, and diarrhoea are examples of acute health impacts. "An increased consumption of pesticides and other harmful sprays in vegetables and fruits can lead to cancers, birth defects, reproductive harm, immunotoxicity, neurologic and developmental toxicity, and disruption of the endocrine system," said Dr Divesh Goyal, senior consultant, adult, and paediatric medical oncologist, hemato oncologist at a private hospital.

According to him, the number of cancer patients has grown in recent years and is fast increasing in younger generations, such as new-borns and children.