Beware of those moong and masoor dals, as tests reveal that they could have carcinogenic properties

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned that pulses such as moong and masoor dal imported by India from countries like Canada and Australia are laced with toxins, the Times of India has reported.

The FSSAI has said that the toxins include herbicides such as glyphosate, a weed killer used by the farming community to get rid of rodents and weed, the report added.

The FSSAI has said that since the maximum residue limits for the weed in pulses has not been specified in the regulations, officials have been asked for follow Canadian standards, the report added.

Tests have, however, shown that the presence of glyphosate in moong and masoor dal are 282 parts per billion and 1,000 parts per billion which is high. The tests were conducted by Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many weedkillers, although the science about its safety is still far from conclusive.

It is used in agriculture and forestry, for weeds in industrial areas, as well as on lawns and gardens.

The WHO had said that the weedkiller has carcinogenic properties, but this study is being debated since 2016.