Pune scientist's fruit wash removes 99% pesticides, pathogens from produce
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a scientist from Pune is asking whether that apple is truly clean. Dr. Asmita Prabhune of the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) has developed a product that removes up to 99% of pesticides, pathogens, and chemical residues from fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet, but they often carry pesticide residues, dust, pollution, and microorganisms from farm to table. In June this year, Nepal banned Indian mangoes due to pesticide concerns. Several European countries have also rejected Indian agricultural products for similar reasons. Pesticide exposure has been linked to various health issues, including headaches, respiratory infections, diarrhoea, ADHD, cancer, and Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Prabhune points out that a quick rinse under tap water or a wash with salt water or vinegar is often assumed to be sufficient, but this assumption is flawed. She previously created a natural, alcohol-free sanitizer to combat COVID-19 in 2020, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Now, she has founded Green Pyramid Biotech, a venture dedicated to improving food safety through scientific research. The company's ethos is to create products that "give back to nature without harming nature."
Incubated at Pune's Venture Center, Green Pyramid Biotech is a spinoff from CSIR-NCL backed by the Technology Development Board's Seed Support System (DST). The startup's flagship innovation, Sophab, is a specialised concentrate that removes 99% of pesticides, pathogens, and chemical residues from fresh produce.
To use Sophab, consumers dilute the product in water, immerse fruits and vegetables for two to three minutes, rub gently, and rinse. The leftover water is benign and can be used for watering plants. Dr. Prabhune notes that the product also increases shelf life by removing dirt, dust, and microbes.
Green Pyramid Biotech is developing a wipe for on-the-go fruit cleaning, which is expected to launch soon. The company also produces items to remove pathogens from chicken, meat, and fish, as well as products to extend shelf life, a dry shampoo, a dry body cleanser, and a sanitizer.
Dr. Prabhune emphasises that her aim is not profit but helping people. She says that many parents and caregivers have reported that children and elderly family members can now eat grapes without throat itching from pesticide residues, which she considers a point of pride.
