Dals
2016 was the International Year of Pulses (IYP) promoted by the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to heighten public awareness of the benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food security and nutrition. IYP in collaboration with governments, relevant organisations including NGOs and other stakeholders, created this unique opportunity to encourage connections throughout the food chain that would better utilise pulse-based proteins, further global production of pulses, better utilise crop rotations and address the challenges in the trade.
Dals cover dried pulses, lentils, peas and beans, stripped of their outer hulls, and split.
Beauty Without Cruelty was surprised beyond words to be told that dals are polished with leather but upon investigation, we discovered it was so! A particular brand was marketing unpolished dals claiming “we do not add marble powder (very harmful for intestines), oil polish (added fat), water polish (source of water is unknown) or leather belt polish (animal skin touch)”.
Pictures of a dal polishing machines with leather belts were found on the internet so we got initial proof of dals being polished with leather.
An inquiry was first made with a dal mill owner in Gujarat. It was orally learnt – hold your breath – that tiger skin was used, especially to polish moong dal. Difficult to believe, given the protected status of the tiger in India, but we were emphatically told that tiger skins are commonly used for this purpose in North Indian mills. Our efforts to confirm this or to trace the supply source of the skins have not been successful.
“Regarding polishing of pulses, it is to inform that first grade dal (dehusked splits) is never polished. Polishing, though not recommended, is done for second and third grade dal. Edible oil, colour and powder are used to improve appearance of the product. Commonly leather belts are used for rubbing dal against screen to give shine and uniform look. Polishing is avoidable as thorough washing before cooking is required for polished dal. However, it is claimed that polishing improves storability of dal. Polishing is not an essential operation for any pulse.”
Conclusion
• The use of leather for polishing dals is no different to the use of leather for producing varkh.
• Particular unpolished dals may be harmful GM produce which might also contain animal genes.
• Some dals are laser-sorted and graded. (May be harmful like the metal detectors with radiation used for security at malls, airports, etc.)
• Not only dals, but grains such as rice are also polished, but to the best of our knowledge no leather is utilised in the process. However, the number of paddy farmers who cultivate fish in their flooded fields and storage ponds is unfortunately increasing – not only paddy-fish, but also poultry-fish. And then there are people who grow rice and veggies like cucumber and tomatoes on their rooftops, often starting with two buckets of fish that need to be fed.