Endocrine Disruptors in Indian Food

Kriti Pandey
May 17
6 min read

Recent research shows that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) contaminate many foods in India. In fact, one major study found traces of banned pesticides, plastic additives (like bisphenol-A and phthalates), heavy metals and other EDCs in all types of foods and even drinking water. Animal-based foods tended to be richer in fat-soluble toxins than plant foods. Alarmingly, packaged and processed foods in urban markets often had higher EDC levels than traditional rural fare. Below, we break down common EDCs in key Indian food categories, how they get there, and their health impacts.

Dairy (Milk and Milk Products)

Dairy products can be contaminated by hormones, chemicals, or packaging additives. For example, some farmers illegally inject cows with bovine growth hormones or oxytocin to boost milk yield. Oxytocin was officially banned in India for milking cows in 2018 due to misuse, but reports show it is still widely used in dairy colonies. Since oxytocin and related hormones are naturally active, they can pass through milk into our diet. Doctors warn that hormones (like oxytocin or bovine growth hormone) injected into cattle can enter the food chain via milk and meat and act as EDCs in humans. Long-term exposure may disrupt normal puberty, fertility and growth: one report notes these injected growth factors “can cause early onset of puberty in children and spur unnatural growth”.

Hormonal additives: Banned growth hormones (oxytocin, bovine somatotropin) are still misused on livestock. These can survive in milk and disrupt human hormone balance (e.g. affecting growth and puberty).
Plasticizers & packaging: Many milks and dairy products are sold in plastic pouches, bottles or cans. Packaging materials often contain bisphenol A (BPA/BPS) and phthalate plasticizers, which can leach into dairy. (BPA binds estrogen receptors; phthalates alter reproductive hormones.)
Environmental contaminants: Cows grazing on contaminated land or drinking polluted water can accumulate pesticides or heavy metals in their milk. The EDIFY study noted that milk was a significant contributor to heavy metal intake in the Indian diet (lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc., can all disrupt thyroid and other hormones).

Packaged Foods

Packaged and processed foods – from ready meals to canned goods – are notorious sources of plastic-derived EDCs. Bisphenols and phthalates from plastic linings and containers easily migrate into food. One review notes that plastic packaging is a “major source of food contamination by EDCs,” with BPA and phthalates most frequently detected. In India, plastics (PET bottles, PVC wrap, polycarbonate containers) and epoxy can linings (in canned foods) release estrogenic chemicals into packaged foods. Microwave heating or long-term storage (especially of fatty foods) increases this leaching. Common EDCs in packaged items include: BPA/BPS from epoxy resins, DEHP/DBP phthalate plasticizers, and even parabens and phenolic antioxidants used in packaging.

Bisphenols (BPA/BPS): Used in can linings, plastic bottles and containers. Bisphenols mimic estrogen and have been linked to breast cancer, reproductive issues and obesity. (FSSAI now restricts BPA in infant food packaging.)
Phthalates: Plasticizers in cling-film, bottles and soft plastics. These have been widely found in foods worldwide and disrupt testosterone and thyroid hormones. Studies of various edible oils (soy, peanut, etc.) report high phthalate levels – up to hundreds of nanograms per mL – making oils a significant exposure source.
Other additives: Processed foods may contain parabens (preservatives) or phenolic antioxidants with weak endocrine activity. The combined “cocktail effect” of multiple EDCs (even at low doses) can raise risk. In general, higher processing = higher EDC burden: an analysis found urban processed foods had more contaminants than fresh rural-sourced foods.

Fruits & Vegetables

Fresh produce is often sprayed with pesticides and exposed to polluted air/soil, so fruits and vegetables carry many EDCs. In Indian-grown vegetables, researchers have detected dozens of endocrine-active chemicals including organophosphate pesticides, alkyl phenols, parabens, triclosan (antibacterial agent) and even traces of bisphenol. These pesticides (like malathion, chlorpyrifos, DDT) and chemicals bind hormone receptors or mimic natural hormones. Heavy metals (cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury) are also common pollutants in soil and water; when plant levels exceed safe limits, they can increase risks of diabetes and other endocrine disorders. Alarmingly, some Indian food tests found that pesticide and heavy metal residues in produce exceeded European safety limits.

Pesticide residues: Fruits and veggies are often coated with agrochemicals. Many (DDT, endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, etc.) are known endocrine disruptors. For example, Hyderabad-grown produce was found to carry organophosphate pesticides and phenolic EDC. Chronic low-dose pesticide exposure from diet is linked to hormone imbalances and cancer risk.
Heavy metals: Crops absorb metals from contaminated soil/water. Studies report cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium in leafy greens. These can interfere with thyroid and insulin function – high cadmium in vegetables has even been associated with gestational diabetes.
Food contact chemicals: Produce stored in plastic crates or wrapped in PVC cling film can pick up plasticizer residues (BPA, phthalates) as well. Even trace plastics on grocery bags can rub off. Over time, these additives add to the EDC burden from food.

Edible Oils

Edible cooking oils can accumulate fat-soluble pollutants and plasticizers. Importantly, plastic packaging for oils (bottles, canisters) can transfer BPA/BPS and phthalates into the oil. Research shows that commercial vegetable oils frequently contain several phthalates at measurable levels. For example, a global review found DEHP, DBP, DiBP and others in olive, sunflower, peanut and blended oils. These phthalates have estrogenic effects and have been linked to early puberty and metabolic disorders. Oils in tin cans may also pick up bisphenol from the epoxy lining. Additionally, palm and soybean crops can carry traces of persistent organic pollutants (like DDT residues) from environmental contamination, which dissolve into the fat. Since oils are a major part of Indian diets, their contamination can significantly raise EDC exposure.

Plasticizers in oils: Multiple phthalates (DEHP, DiBP, etc.) have been detected in common cooking oils. Edible oils may actually contain higher phthalate levels than bottled water. Over years of consuming these oils, the estrogenic load can become significant.
Packaging chemicals: Cooking oils sold in plastic jugs or lined cans pick up bisphenols and plasticizers from the container. Heating oil (e.g. in microwaves) greatly increases leaching. Even “micronutrients” in oil can be overshadowed by these migrating toxins.
Fat-soluble pollutants: As lipophilic substances, certain pollutants concentrate in oils. Fats from contaminated feedstocks (e.g. fish oil) or pesticide-treated seeds may carry residues of DDT/DDE, PCBs, or other organochlorines. While testing is limited, such bioaccumulation is well-known in food safety.

Meat and Poultry

Animal meats (including poultry and fish) can carry hormone disruptors both from farming practices and environmental contamination. Unregulated use of hormones and antibiotics in livestock is a concern. Even though India bans growth promoters, investigations show farmers secretly use oxytocin and steroids on cattle and poultry. These animal hormones enter meat and milk, where they may alter human endocrine function. Wildlife and farmed fish are especially vulnerable to persistent pollutants: studies of Indian fish have found DDT’s breakdown product (p,p’-DDE) as the most abundant EDC, along with industrial chemicals like PCBs and PBDE flame retardants. Poultry eggs from polluted areas likewise contained dioxins, hexachlorobenzene and other organochlorines. In general, animal fats bioaccumulate toxins: one survey noted that “animal-based foods were found to be richer in POPs and plasticizers than plant-based products.”. These fat-soluble EDCs can cause infertility, thyroid problems and cancer in consumers.

Livestock hormones: Cattle and poultry are sometimes given oxytocin or anabolic steroids to boost growth. These hormones have estrogenic effects and can disrupt human puberty and fertility. Expert warnings link such practices to human endocrine effects (e.g. early puberty) via the food chain.
Fat-soluble pollutants: Animals eat plants and feed that contain POPs (like DDT, PCB). These concentrate in meat, milk and eggs. For instance, Indian freshwater fish often contain high levels of DDT/DDE, PCBs and PBDEs. Poultry eggs have shown residues of dioxins and chlorinated compounds in polluted regions. Eating contaminated meat can lead to reproductive and metabolic disorders in humans.
Environmental toxins: Animals raised near industry or contaminated sites can accumulate heavy metals and toxins. Indian studies note that meat, eggs and dairy from such areas can carry lead, mercury and pesticide residues. (EDIFY found animals have more contaminants than plants) These toxins are linked to cancers, thyroid disease, and hormone imbalance.

Health Impacts of EDC Exposure

EDCs interfere with hormone signaling, and even tiny doses can have serious effects over time. In children, chronic exposure is linked to early puberty, developmental delays, and reduced fertility. In adults, EDCs contribute to thyroid disorders, diabetes, obesity and some cancers. Notably, BPA and phthalates (from plastics) are associated with insulin resistance and obesity, while organochlorine pesticides (like DDT) have been tied to reproductive cancers and metabolic disease. In India, rising diabetes and thyroid disorders coincide with increased chemical exposures.

ChooseSafe Food: These findings highlight the urgent need for transparent testing of our food. Consumers should know which products are free from hidden toxins. By joining the ChoosePure community, you can access science-backed reports on tested food items and support safer food practices. Stay informed about food contamination trends and policy updates, and help pressure producers for cleaner ingredients. Together, we can push for more rigorous testing and accountability in the food supply.