No Facility to Test Presence of Oxytocin in Fruits and Vegetables

Presence of oxytocin in food items could cause cancer. Advocate Anurag Dubey had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for steps to prevent pesticides in fruits and vegetable available in markets. The Delhi High Court was told by advocate Dubey that there was no facility available to test presence of oxytocin in food articles. A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was informed by advocate Dubey that traders make use of oxytocin in various agricultural products for giving a fresh and shining look to attract the consumers but no testing facility was available to determine the presence of the chemical whose use in eatables causes cancer and other diseases.

The court had earlier taken suo moto cognizance of the report which said, "Pesticide-laced vegetables, fruits and other edible items are available in the markets of national capital." The court has now posted the matter for September 24, 2015, for final hearing.

Source-IANS