Today, first of all I want to warn you about the danger that has reached your kitchen. The shiny, clean, big garlic that you buy and eat thinking it is good, is actually Chinese garlic, which is a slow poison and dangerous for health. The government has banned the import of Chinese garlic, its sale is prohibited, but it is reaching India via Nepal or Afghanistan. Nowadays, Chinese garlic is being sold openly at every vegetable vendor's shop. Allahabad High Court has issued a notice to the government and asked that when there is a ban on Chinese garlic, then how is it coming into the country, how is it being sold openly? A petitioner reached Allahabad High Court with Chinese garlic. He told the judge that the sale of this garlic has been banned for 10 years, its import is also illegal. This is a violation of the law and playing with the health of the people. The High Court called the officials of the Food Safety Department and directed them to inform the entire situation after testing it in the lab within two weeks. The court gave time but also directed the government to warn people about the dangers of Chinese garlic and issue a helpline number on which people can call or send a message to complain about where Chinese garlic is being sold.

After China, India is the second largest producer of garlic in the world. The garlic sold in the market with small tubercles is Indian garlic, and the garlic which is completely white and has big tubercles is Chinese garlic. Some garlic is also imported from Iran. It is also big in size, but is light pink in colour, while Chinese garlic is completely white. It is difficult to differentiate between Iranian and Chinese garlic, so Chinese garlic is being sold indiscriminately in the name of Iranian garlic. It has been found that most of the Chinese garlic is supplied through Nepal and Afghanistan. Garlic is first transported from China to the markets of Nepal, then from there the middlemen and smugglers smuggle it across the border and bring it to India. On Thursday, the police seized 110 sacks of Chinese garlic in Maharajganj, UP. The Chinese garlic was tested in 2014. The Chinese garlic did not meet the standards of purity, it failed the lab test. More pesticides than the prescribed amount were found in Chinese garlic. Being genetically modified, Chinese garlic is prone to fungal infections, so it was considered dangerous and the government banned it. Who could have thought that a small garlic would become such a big issue, but this is Chinese garlic. Earlier, Chinese rice, Chinese eggs and Chinese noodles had caused trouble. All these were dangerous for health. Similarly, Chinese garlic was also found to be dangerous.

China is the largest producer of garlic in the world, but it is treated with the most pesticides, and it is grown using septic tank water. In our country, especially in Ayurveda, garlic is considered a kind of medicine. Garlic is given to boost immunity in case of blood pressure, but if the medicine itself becomes poison, then one can only imagine what will happen to the patient. Now the question is, what is the difference between Chinese garlic and Desi garlic and how can it be identified? I will give you some tips. Chinese garlic is bigger in size, while Desi garlic is smaller. The buds of Chinese garlic are small and thick, while the buds of Desi garlic are long and thin. You will find Chinese garlic completely white, while Desi garlic can be muddy or yellow too. Chinese garlic has less smell and the smell of Desi garlic is strong. Similarly, it is very easy to peel Chinese garlic, but Desi garlic has so many layers of peel that it takes time to peel it completely. Now when you go to the market, identify on this basis which garlic you are buying and which garlic you are eating, because both are available in the market. Chinese garlic is a little cheaper, but Indian garlic is expensive. My advice is that you should not fall for the cheapness. The quality and reliability of the product which has Chinese in its name is doubtful. That is why be careful.