Endocrine Disruptors in Indian Food: minimizing children exposure and fostering a safer space for agriculture and food market

Evidence shows that India is a global hotspot for chemical pollution. Among the contaminants of major concern figure several endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs can harm human health and cause negative consequences for social and economic development. Clinical effects can occur following chronic exposure at very low concentrations, especially during the foetal stage and in the early stage of development, as several EDCs can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and lactation. The goals of the EDIFY project were to implement the first assessment of endocrine disruptors in the Indian diet, to develop knowledge-based recommendations for food safety policy and healthier food choices, and to compare regulatory approaches and policies on endocrine disruptors in the EU and India in order to identify a potential transmission value. The EDIFY project has reached all its objectives and has successfully conducted the first comprehensive assessment of several EDCs in the Indian diet by analysing hundreds of food item samples. We have consistently found traces of EDCs in all types of food and drinking water. These include restricted/banned Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), chemical additives used in plastic items (including in food packaging), heavy metals and pesticides. Animal-based foods were found to be richer in POPs and plasticizers than plant-based products. We have not collected evidence on whether Indian people face a higher dietary exposure to POPs than Europeans. Industrially processed food sold in urban markets of Delhi contains more EDCs than locally produced food sold in a rural reference market in northern India. This suggests that rural populations are less exposed to EDCs than urban populations, thanks to more traditional farming and food production. We also found similar levels of EDCs in lacto-vegetarian diets as in non-vegetarian diets. We found that leafy vegetables and milk were important contributors of heavy metals in the Indian diet. In some cases, heavy metals and commonly used pesticides were found to exceed the permitted values set in Europe. Plastic additives with EDCs properties (including bisphenol-a and phthalates) were frequently measured in cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy, animal products, and drinking water. In some cases, the sources of plasticizers in food could be attributed to food packaging. EDIFY has produced several scientific publications, including papers with high citation rates. Project findings have been disseminated through stakeholder workshops and reports, including a policy recommendation document delivered to the Indian Ministry of Health and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These recommendations were also widely disseminated during a special session of the World Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi on 16th February 2022, which gathered a broad audience of high officers and stakeholders from the food industry sector. Audio-visuals disseminating findings to policy makers and the general public were also produced. The research included a review of food safety and EDC management policies in India in comparison to international regulatory acts, which found that the policy framework for EDCs in India lacks a systematic approach and is rather fragmentary. Hence the scope of EDIFY is to stimulate a policy reflection on EDCs in the context of the development of the new chemical regulation in India. Our recommendations include a suggestion to develop systematic monitoring of EDCs in food, the adoption of new criteria for the early identification of contaminants including EDCs, and the development of a green label for packaged food indicating to consumers (especially women and children) healthier choices for a low EDC diet.

EDIFY has provided a first overview of the state of exposure of Indian population to a number of endocrine disrupting chemical compounds (EDC). We have provided comparative analyses of international policies and regulations on EDC and given insights and built capacity to establish routine monitoring of dietary exposure. This has been transferred to Indian authorities, directly targeting high-level officers at the ministry of health. EDIFY also presented draft ideas for quality food labels as food safety management tools that can be considered by governance and food businesses. EDIFY results contribute to populate lists of priority substances for chemical regulation, adoption of scientific criteria for prioritization of EDC in regulation and the introduction of a monitoring system for food safety hence contributing to the development of health protection in India.

Evidences point at India as a global hotspot for endocrine disrupting substances (EDS) contamination. As acknowledged in international policy documents, EDS can impair health and cause incalculable negative impacts on social and economic development. Clinical conditions emerge via low-level chronic exposure, especially when this occurred during fetal and developmental stages. Several EDS can be transferred from mother to child during pregnancy and lactation. The knowledge to inform sound risk-management measure is not established. A precautionary approach is strongly advocated by the international scientific community but not yet assimilated into regulation. In India, immediate actions to safeguard health of vulnerable groups and reduce impacts on economy are necessary. EDIFY will deliver: The first comprehensive assessment of EDS occurrence in the diet of Indian communities focusing on the socio-economic and climate drivers controlling exposure; Recommendations for food choices that reduce EDS in the diet and that are tailored for Indian children and women in child-bearing age; A comparative (EU-India) analysis of policies on EDS; The elaboration and promotion of a Low-Endocrine-Disruptors (LED) food quality label to foster the creation of a market niche for safer food and promote Indian primary sector export. Indian women and children will be involved both as source of information on food basket composition and as recipients of educational campaigns. Environmental and health authorities will be recipients of the policy analysis outcomes. Representative of farmers and food industry and trade will be recipient of the promotional campaign for the LED label. EDIFY is deeply anchored to several UNEP Sustainable Development Goals. As such, it will produce direct benefits for policy development, the agro and food industry sector, the reduction of poverty and, importantly, the protection of health of both the present and next generation of women and children of India.