A prohibition, split verdict, and health risk

• Rapeseed-mustard oil is the third-largest edible oil consumed in India.

• Two executive and judicial decisions on mustard oil in 2021 and 2024 have significant public health implications.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibited the manufacturing and sale of blended mustard oil in India, effective from June 8, 2021.

• The Supreme Court ruled against the environmental release of India’s indigenously developed genetically modified (GM) mustard named Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) on July 23, 2024, citing insufficient assessment of its impact on human health.

• High levels of erucic acid in mustard oil are considered undesirable for human consumption, especially in advanced countries like the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

• Blended mustard oil can reduce the high erucic acid content in mustard oil by blending it with other edible oils.

• A nationwide survey by FSSAI found that 24.21% of the 4,461 edible oil samples collected did not meet the quality parameters criteria.

• The sale of blended mustard oil should not be banned entirely, but should be allowed in packaged/branded form with an explicit declaration regarding the oils that have been blended.

• The erucic acid content in Indian mustard oil can be reduced by cultivating the indigenous GM mustard crop DMH-11, which has a lower erucic acid content (30-35% compared to traditional Indian mustard crops).

• The erucic acid-reducing property of DMH-11 and the associated health and economic benefits need to be factored in when deciding on the approval of the GM mustard crop.