[asia-apec 629] Article by Vandana Shiva (1 of 2)

[PAN Asia Pacific]

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FORWARDED BY DIVERSE WOMEN FOR DIVERSITY
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Dear Friends,

This just arrived from Giatanjali at the Diverse Women Secretariat:
        "You must be hearing of the "dropsy" epidemic in India, whereby people
 are dying due to mustard oil adulteration. Within a few weeks the
 Central Government has banned the sale of all loose mustard oil. The
 ramifications are enormous, particularly for the farmers. We believe
 foreign hands are behind this development, trying ensure the
importation  of edible oil subsitutes ie. soya bean. Enclosed is an
article by  Vandana titled "Destroying the Tropical Oilseeds to Create a
Market for  Genetically Engineered Soya Bean Exports?". Could you please
circulate  it widely through the Diverse Women list server, and others
list servers you are in contact with."


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DESTROYING THE TROPICAL OILSEEDS TO CREATE A MARKET FOR GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED
SOYA BEAN EXPORTS?
(The Case of India's Mustard Oil Tragedy)

                                                                by
Dr.Vandana Shiva

When India carried out nuclear tests in May, the U.S. imposed trade
sanctions on India. However, an exception was rapidly made to exports of
agricultural commodities since U.S. agribusiness needed to capture
Indian markets.

In July India announced that it could import 1 million ton of soy bean
as oil seeds. There was no guarantee that this soya bean would not be
contaminated with genetically engineered soya bean. Since oilseeds were
on the "restricted" list of imports, the government had to notify the
decision. Citizen groups and the Agriculture Ministry challenged the
imports because they were not necessary.  We also raised concerns of
food safety.

Suddenly, on August 27th, the government announced a policy of free
import of soya bean, while simultaneously banning sale of mustard oil.
The justification used was high prices of edible oils and the mustard
oil tragedy.  During August a tragedy had started to unfold in Delhi due
to a massive adulteration of mustard oil, the most popular edible oil in
North and East India, with seeds of a weed "argemone mexicana" as well
as other adulterants like diesel, waste oil, industrial oil etc.

The "Dropsy" Epidemic

Mustard oil adulteration had led to an epidemic of "dropsy".  "Dropsy"
is a term used to describe pathological swelling of the feet. In the
context of the mustard oil adulteration, what is being referred to as
cases of dropsy are not merely cases of swelling of the feet but an
entire range of signs and symptoms affecting multiple organs and
systems. These include nausea, vomitting, diarrohea, abdominal swelling,
liver toxicity, kidney damage, cordio toxicity, breathlessness due to
retention of fluids in the lungs and death due to heart failure.
Besides the above, cases of blindness have been reported due to presence
of asymptomatic retinal harmoerage.

The links of dropsy with adulterated edible oil was first established by
an Indian doctor in Bengal in 1926.

The toxic damage in dropsy is caused by two alkaloids -- sanguinarine
and dehydrosanguinarine which cause increased permeability of the blood
vessels resulting in fluid collection in the tissues.
The first case of dropsy was reported on 5th August.  By early September
the official death toll was 41, and 2300 people had been affected.

Mustard sale was banned in Delhi, Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,
Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura
and Karnataka. On September 4th, the Government banned sale of all
unpackaged edible oils, thus ensuring that all household and community
level processing of edible oils was stopped and edible oil became fully
industrialised. This in effect is a total destruction of the food
culture of India and the food economy of the poor who depend on
unpackaged oil since it is cheaper and they can buy it in small
quantities.

The Economic Ecological and Cultural Significance of Mustard or "Sarson"

"Sarson" or Mustard in India is central to our culture.  It is the
symbol of spring and renewal.  The yellow of the mustard flower is the
colour of spring (Basant). Songs on the theme of "Sarson" are an
integral part of folk culture. Makki ki roti and Sarson ka Saag (Corn
bread with vegetable made of mustard leaf) is the best known food linked
to Punjab culture and identity.  Mustard oil is the Olive oil of Bihar,
Bengal, Orissa and East Uttar Pradesh and is used for flavouring and
cooking. Bengalis' Hilsa fish fried in mustard oil is the ultimate
delight and North Indians like their pakoras fried in it because of the
unique taste and aroma. In the South, mustard seeds are the preferring
seasoning for "Upma", Vegetables, Rice curd etc.

Mustard is not just an edible oil.  It is an important medicine in the
indigenous Ayurvedic system of health care.  It is used for therapeutic
massages, muscular and joint problem. Oil with garlic and turmeric is
used for rheumatism and joint pains.  Mustard oil is also used as a
mosquito repellant, a significant contribution in a country and region
where resurgence of malaria is responsible for the death of thousands.

Since mustard seed has high oil content and can be processed locally, it
is locally available to the poor at low cost. It is an integral part of
India's food and health culture and food economy, having been integrated
into cropping patterns and food patterns over centuries. The threat to
mustard due to the adulteration of mustard oil and the ban of its sale
across India is thus a threat to Indian culture, Indian food systems and
the food economy of the poor.

The Mustard Oil Tragedy: Who Gains, Who Looses?

When a crime takes place, the first question asked is who has a motive?
Who could gain from the crime?

The relevant questions to ask about the mustard oil tragedy is who could
possibly gain by such a high level conspiracy of adulteration that has
affected the health of thousands and has already killed many victims of
dropsy and has nearly killed the domestic edible oil industry.

The mustard oil tragedy that has unfolded over the past month is unlike
all earlier cases of food adulteration.

Firstly, while typical cases of adulteration by local traders are
restricted to particular brands and remote and marginalised regions so
that they go unnoticed, the mustard oil tragedy has affected nearly all
brands and India's capital Delhi is the worst affected region.
Thus, adulteration was done in order to be noticed immediately and get
immediate response.

Secondly, while adulterating mustard oil with argemone is an old
practice, the adulteration was never more than .01%.  This time the
adulteration has gone up to 10% - 30%.  Argemone is not in itself toxic.
It is a medicinal plant whose roots are used internally worms and
stomach ailments. The high level of adulteration with argemone and other
toxic substances such as diesel and waste oil clearly indicates that the
tragedy was not a result of the normal business of adulteration but an
abnormal occurrence with a clear motive. As the Health Minister Dr.
Harsh Vardhan has stated, this is not possible without a organised
conspiracy. The adulteration was therefore done in such a way that it
could kill people, and it could kill conspicuously so that an immediate
ban on mustard oil and free import of oilseeds including soya bean  for
oil becomes inevitable.