Forty years after its ban, experts in food poisoning are collecting vital scientific data to find out if kesar dal is dangerous to human health, and if so, how to reduce its toxicity.
The research is important from the economic and nutrition point of view as kesar dal costs `20 per kg and is high in nutrition. It has been linked to a crippling health condition called Lathyrism, but there is no conclusive evidence.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here is the nodal agency on kesar dal research and experts feel that there is ample scope to turn the pulse into a potent food crop, using detoxification methods and genetic modifications.
Though in use for thousands of years, it was declared unfit for human consumption due to its alleged toxicity, and banned in many states including Andhra Pradesh. West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have not banned it, while it continues to be sown legally in Maharashtra following a court stay.
Bio-medical scientists, toxicologists, clinicians and food and feed technologists, who met at the NIN on Thursday, exchanged scientific data and formulated strategies to make better use of kesar dal.
Dr G.S. Toteja, director, Desert Medicine Research Centre, Jodhpur, said production of pulses in India was to the tune of 17 million tonnes as against the demand of 21 million tonnes. Kesar dal, if promoted, would fill the gap. “The Indian Council of Medical Research is currently collecting data to clinically link consumption of kesar dal to health problems. New evidence is emerging in favour of kesar dal, but the final report is still awaited,” he said..