Food safety has always felt personal to me. Growing up, I saw my father struggle with heart problems, and it made me think about how something as basic as cooking oil can have a huge impact on our health. During my research, I realised just how serious the problem of adulteration is in India. Mustard oil is found in almost every kitchen, and is often mixed with harmful substances like argemone oil, which is banned because of its toxic effects. This realization hit hard, and I knew I had to do something.

That’s how the Know Your Oil campaign began. I wanted to give families a simple way to protect themselves. Existing adulteration kits cost around ₹400, which is out of reach for most households. So I worked on creating one that costs just ₹50 and can be used easily. I also wrote a manual so that people would be more aware of the impact food adulteration could have on them. 

I’ve taken the campaign into communities,  holding workshops in schools, hospitals and old-age homes like  Apna Ghar Ashram, where residents now use the kit. Partnering with the Swami Vivekanand Health Mission Society, my manual has been rolled out in 14 of their charitable hospitals, reaching thousands of patients, staff, and caregivers. In total, the initiative has already touched more than 40,000 people.

What started as a small idea has grown far beyond what I expected. The project was recognised by the Government of Rajasthan, and I was humbled to receive a Global Sustainability Award for it. But more than the recognition, what matters to me is seeing people, many of them from vulnerable communities, feel empowered to test the oil in their kitchens and make safer choices for their families. For me, that’s the real success of Know Your Oil.