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In a bold move that challenges the World Health Organization’s (WHO) stance on arecanut, the Karnataka government has commissioned a private institute to investigate the health impacts of arecanut. The decision comes in response to concerns raised by local arecanut growers and BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra, who questioned the state’s actions following a WHO report linking arecanut to oral cancer.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), under WHO, has repeatedly linked smokeless tobacco and arecanut to oral cancer, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. According to the IARC’s 2022 report, over 120,000 oral cancer cases worldwide were attributed to these substances, with a significant impact in regions such as South-Central Asia.
However, Karnataka’s State Horticulture Minister S S Mallikarjun has raised doubts about the findings. In a statement, Mallikarjun suggested that the IARC report’s emphasis on the harmful combination of tobacco and arecanut—specifically gutkha—does not necessarily reflect the effects of arecanut on its own. He argued that the problem lies not with the arecanut itself, but rather with its admixture with tobacco, which is commonly consumed in forms like gutkha and paan masala.
Minister Mallikarjun further highlighted that the state is seeking collaboration with the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute to examine the health implications of pure arecanut consumption. He expressed hope that this research could provide clarity and potentially refute the WHO’s conclusions on the matter.
The decision has been met with mixed reactions. While some local growers see this as an opportunity to defend their livelihood, health experts continue to support the IARC’s findings, warning of the potential dangers of both smokeless tobacco and arecanut.
As the study progresses, Karnataka’s stand on arecanut remains at the center of an ongoing debate that pits local agricultural interests against global health recommendations.
