★ Traders have raised concerns over the ongoing lead contamination issue in edible oil, seeking a review of the action taken and demanding a fair and transparent investigation.

★ A delegation of the Indian Industry Trade Federation met officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and urged reconsideration of the order. The authority assured that the matter would be examined.

★ According to State President Gyanesh Mishra, FSSAI had collected samples on February 23, 2026, from 14 oil manufacturing firms across Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Lucknow, Hapur, and Gorakhpur. The samples comprised mustard oil, solvent oil, and palm oil.

★ Some of these samples were later declared “unsafe” following tests conducted in a private laboratory.

★ Traders, however, argued that the presence of lead cannot be controlled or altered during processing. They pointed to possible external sources such as soil conditions, agricultural practices, and irrigation water. They also questioned the validity of strict action based solely on a single private lab report, stating that restrictions on production, sales, and stock are unjustified without broader verification.

★ The delegation included Jagdish Gupta and Vijay Gupta (Kanpur), Shashank Agrawal (Gorakhpur), Kumar Krishna Goyal (Agra), Sanjeev Agrawal (Hapur), Siddharth Gupta and Kishan Agrawal (Lucknow), Tarun Kataria, Santosh Kataria, and Naresh Sangal.

★ The issue has now brought attention to the need for greater transparency in testing procedures and the reliability of food safety standards in the country.