Chinese Garlic Seized at India-Nepal Border in UP's Maharajganj, Later Taken Away By Villagers, Know How Dangerous Is It For Your Health?

A shipment of 16 tonnes of Chinese garlic, deemed unsafe due to contamination, was confiscated recently by the Customs Department on the India-Nepal border, in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh. However, despite efforts to destroy it, local villagers managed to recover the garlic after it was buried in the soil, leading to concerns about the potential health risks associated with its consumption or use.

Lab test confirmed the presence of harmful fungus

The Customs Department had recently confiscated a significant quantity—16 tonnes—of Chinese garlic that had been smuggled from Nepal into India. Health experts had flagged this garlic as highly dangerous, and a lab test confirmed the presence of harmful fungus. Following this discovery, the garlic was banned in India due to the serious health risks it posed. To eliminate the threat, the department decided to bury the contaminated garlic.

Villagers dug up the garlic

However, as soon as officials left the site, local villagers—comprising children, the elderly, and women—began to dig up the buried garlic. What followed was a scramble among the villagers to extract as much garlic as they could.

Health Risks of Chinese Garlic

Chinese garlic, in this case, is seen as particularly hazardous. Health experts warn that the fungus present in the garlic can cause severe health issues, including gastritis, stomach inflammation, and other gastrointestinal problems. 

This garlic is grown artificially

Dr. Amit Rao Gautam, an expert on the matter, explained that this garlic is not produced through natural methods but is grown artificially. This process makes the garlic more susceptible to contamination and, as a result, unsafe for consumption.

Despite these risks, villagers who recovered the garlic claimed they were not planning to eat it but intended to plant it in their fields. This practice is equally worrisome since the contaminated garlic, if planted, could lead to the spread of the fungus, potentially affecting future crops and the health of those who consume them.

Questions on Customs Department's Actions

The incident has led to serious questions about how the Customs Department handled the disposal of the contaminated garlic. Critics argue that simply burying the garlic in the soil was an inadequate method of destruction, especially when the health risks were well known. The department could have used other means, such as incineration, to ensure the garlic was entirely destroyed.

By opting to bury the garlic, the Customs Department inadvertently made it accessible to local villagers, who dug it up easily. Given the rising prices of garlic in the market, many villagers felt compelled to retrieve the buried garlic to use it in their fields, unaware or indifferent to the health risks involved.

The Bigger Picture: A Public Health Risk

This incident highlights the need for stricter measures when dealing with hazardous goods, especially those that pose a threat to public health. The failure to properly destroy the contaminated garlic not only endangers the villagers but could also have far-reaching consequences if the garlic is planted or consumed. Health experts have reiterated that the use of this garlic in any form is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

While the Customs Department succeeded in seizing a large quantity of smuggled garlic, their failure to ensure its complete destruction has sparked concerns. The case of the Chinese garlic at the India-Nepal border serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper disposal methods for contaminated goods and the potential consequences of neglecting public health measures.