Question 48 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Science and
Technology

Question

Consider the following pairs:
1. Lipstick - Lead
2. Soft drinks - Brominated vegetable oils
3. Chinese fast food - Monosodium glutamate
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1, 2, and 3

Strategy: Identify the established association between each product and its controversial chemical: lipstick and lead, soft drinks and brominated vegetable oil, and Chinese fast food and MSG. Verify that all pairings are accurate, leading to the selection of the option containing all three.

Key Info: **Lipstick** is a cosmetic product that has been found to contain trace amounts of **lead** in various laboratory analyses, primarily from pigments used during manufacturing. Although authorities like the US FDA and India's CDSCO set permissible lead limits in cosmetics, prolonged exposure can pose health risks.

**Brominated vegetable oils (BVOs)** are emulsifiers used in processed beverages, mainly to keep citrus flavoring from separating. BVOs contain bromine, which in high levels may pose health risks, leading many countries—such as India and the EU—to ban or regulate their use in soft drinks. In the US, BVOs are considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) within certain limits, though advocacy groups express concerns over side effects like neurotoxicity and organ accumulation.

**Monosodium glutamate (MSG)** is a flavor enhancer common in Chinese and East Asian cuisine as well as processed foods. MSG provides umami taste and is approved for food use worldwide. While some reports allege 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' (headache, flushing), extensive studies—including by WHO and FDA—have found no consistent evidence of harm to the general population at normal consumption levels.

All three substances have been at the center of periodic food safety and public health discussions, enhancing their association with the products listed in the question.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

Consider the following pairs: Lipstick - Lead Soft drinks - Brominated vegetable oils Chinese fast food - Monosodium glutamate Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs:

Lipstick - Lead

Soft drinks - Brominated vegetable oils

Chinese fast food - Monosodium glutamate
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?