Is your daily food turning into a silent health risk? Experts warn of ‘contaminated plate’ crisis in India

India is facing rising public health concerns linked to food safety and changing dietary habits. Experts say daily food consumption, ranging from milk and paneer to eggs, meat, fish and packaged products, is increasingly associated with contamination, adulteration and excessive processing.

Health specialists warn that unsafe and ultra-processed foods are contributing to higher cases of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, infertility and cancer across age groups.

Warnings From Health Bodies

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Public health organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), have identified unsafe food and antimicrobial resistance as major drivers of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Experts say food safety failures are not isolated regulatory lapses but reflect wider structural gaps across the supply chain.

Expert Flags ‘Silent Pandemic’

Under its awareness initiative “Zara Sochiye”, Zee Media highlighted concerns raised by food safety and wellness expert Dr Naval Kumar Verma, MD (Hom), Hon PhD (Doctor of Science). He described the situation as a “silent pandemic” driven by contaminated and ultra-processed diets.

Dr Verma said commonly consumed items such as milk, curd, paneer, spices, vegetables, eggs, poultry, meat, fish and packaged foods are under scrutiny for chemical residues, antibiotics, hormones, microbial toxins and industrial additives.

“Modern food has shifted from nourishment to biochemical stress. Whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, much of what we consume today carries inflammation, toxins and metabolic disruption,” he said.

Contamination and Health Risks

Studies and surveillance reports have pointed to antibiotic residues and bacterial contamination in eggs and poultry products. Experts warn that excessive antibiotic use in animal farming is contributing to antimicrobial resistance, which the WHO lists among the top global public health threats.

Fish and seafood have faced concerns over chemical preservatives such as formalin and heavy metals like mercury and cadmium. Long-term exposure may lead to neurological damage and increased cancer risk due to toxin accumulation.

Packaged and processed foods, including ready-to-eat meat products, are often high in refined oils, trans fats, sodium and artificial additives. Research links high consumption of ultra-processed foods to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and digestive cancers.

Experts say food adulteration can result in chronic low-dose exposure that may trigger oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, DNA damage and immune suppression. These mechanisms are associated with cancer, autoimmune disorders, infertility and neurodegenerative diseases.

India has reported rising cases of diabetes, fatty liver disease, obesity and hormone-related cancers at younger ages. Specialists attribute this trend largely to dietary shifts towards packaged and highly processed foods.

Suggested Measures and Awareness

Dr Verma said, “Hospitals treat disease. Food policy prevents it.” He recommended prioritising food purity over calorie intake, ensuring antibiotic-free and hormone-free food chains, reducing ultra-processing and strengthening farm-to-plate traceability.

Experts have suggested clearer front-of-pack labelling, stricter residue testing, reduced marketing of ultra-processed foods and greater consumer awareness. Consumers are advised to choose fresh and minimally processed foods, limit packaged meats, reduce refined products and read labels carefully.

Through “Zara Sochiye”, Zee Media has urged citizens to reassess everyday food choices in the interest of long-term public health.