Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha raised a very serious concern about food safety during the Budget Session of Parliament on February 4, 2026. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, he warned that citizens are unknowingly consuming “slow poison” in their daily meals. He shared official statistics showing that one out of every four food samples tested between 2014-15 and 2025-26 was found to be adulterated.
What kind of adulteration is happening in daily items?
Raghav Chadha gave a detailed list of how common food items are being contaminated with harmful chemicals. He mentioned that urea and detergent are being mixed in milk, while Oxytocin injections are used to make vegetables look fresh and green. The situation is similar for other products available in the market.
According to the details shared in the house, caustic soda is found in paneer and brick dust is mixed with spices. He also highlighted that honey often contains sugar syrup instead of being pure. Chicken is pumped with steroids for faster growth, and even ice cream contains detergent. These chemicals can lead to serious health issues like cancer and heart diseases.
Demand for stricter laws and ‘Name and Shame’ policy
The MP urged the government to strengthen the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). He requested more manpower and modern laboratories for better testing of food products. He pointed out that the current penalties are too weak to stop these illegal activities.
Chadha proposed a ‘Public Recall Mechanism’ to handle this crisis. Under this system, if a product is found unsafe, its name should be made public immediately, and the stock must be recalled from the market. This ‘Name and Shame’ approach aims to force companies to maintain purity standards.
