NHRC issues notice to Health Ministry & FSSAI over widespread reuse of cooking oil

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Union Health Ministry and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) following a complaint raising concerns over the widespread reuse of cooking oil across the country.

The NHRC has directed a probe and requested a state-wise report along with an action taken report to be submitted within two weeks. The Commission noted that the allegations, at first glance “appear to be violations of the human rights of the victims,” according to proceedings dated October 22.

The complaint was filed by the founder of Sarthak Samudayik Vikas Evam Jan Kalyan Sanstha, a Bhopal-based NGO focused on public health and community welfare . The NGO highlighted that despite FSSAI’s 'RUCO - Repurpose Used Cooking Oil' campaign and policies promoting bio-diesel, many small and large hotels, roadside eateries, and restaurants allegedly continuously reuse or resell used cooking oil, and the practice is likely to continue . On the ground, local officials and residents confirm that used oil is often recycled unofficially or mixed with fresh oil to cut costs, exposing millions of consumers to health risks.

Repeatedly heated oils generate harmful compounds that can increase cholesterol, blood pressure, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Over time, this can lead to heart disease, liver disorders, neurological damage, and even cancer . Beyond health, discarded oil contaminates soil and water, creating additional environmental hazards.

The complainant urged the NHRC to treat the issue as a human rights concern and direct enforcement agencies, including FSSAI, pollution control boards, and municipal authorities, to strictly implement regulations, establish authorised oil purification and reuse centres, and run public awareness campaigns about the dangers of reused cooking oil.

A bench of the NHRC, presided over by member Priyank Kanoongo, took cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and has asked for the allegations to be investigated, with the state-wise report submitted within two weeks.

While FSSAI has launched campaigns to prevent the misuse of cooking oil, the continued and widespread practice of reusing oil by both small and large eateries, roadside vendors, and restaurants points to gaps in enforcement, monitoring, and public awareness. Simply issuing guidelines has proven insufficient, as businesses prioritize cost savings over health. The NHRC’s intervention underscores that this is not just a regulatory issue but a human rights and public health crisis, demanding stronger accountability, strict inspections, a nd urgent systemic reforms. Without robust enforcement and citizen awareness, millions remain at risk of severe health consequences and environmental damage. All over the country, this shows how unscrupulous practices are turning food that should be safe and wholesome into a health hazard.