India has launched an investigation into exporters of spices whose products were tested for high levels of cancer-causing pesticides. The presence of these pesticides in spices has raised concerns among global food regulators.
Spice Board of India, the country’s regulator for spice exports, said it has started inspecting the processing and manufacturing plants of two leading brands, MDH and Everest.
The investigation comes a month after Hong Kong suspended the sale of three spices made by Everest and one made by MDH.
Authorities in Hong Kong say the spices contain high levels of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide.
Singapore ordered the recall of Everest Mix, while New Zealand, Australia and the US said they were looking into complaints about both brands.
Britain’s Food Standards Agency said last Wednesday that it has applied additional control measures to all spice imports from India.
A senior Spice Board of India official told the ‘Mint’ newspaper: ‘We have held three consultative meetings with companies involved in the industry.
He further said that the industry is taking a serious attitude on this matter.
A report published in the Financial Express on Tuesday said that preliminary research by Indian authorities found no evidence of ethylene oxide in MDH spices, but some Everest samples (out of 12) contained non-conforming ingredients.
An official, who did not want to be named, said: ‘We have asked them (the spice companies) to take corrective measures and we are working with them to ensure that They are complying (with standard measures).’
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Both the Indian companies have said that their products are safe to eat. MDH said it does not use any ethylene oxide in its spices.
According to Indian broadcaster NDTV, the company said in a statement: ‘We assure our buyers and consumers that we do not use ethylene oxide at any stage of storage, processing or packaging of our spices. .’
The Independent has contacted the Everest company for comment.
Ethylene oxide, which is commonly used as a disinfectant, sterilizing agent and insecticide to reduce germs, can cause cancer if consumed in excess.
However, this limit is not standardized across the world. Hong Kong completely bans the use of ethylene oxide in food, while the European Union allows its use up to 0.1 mg/kg.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that regular exposure to ethylene oxide over many years increases the risk of cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma and lymphocytic leukemia, and breast cancer.
The increasing global scrutiny of Indian spices has threatened the country’s spice export industry, according to the Spice Board, India exported four billion dollars worth of spices from 2022 to 2023.
The Global Trade Research Initiative, a think tank in New Delhi, estimates that the situation is likely to affect more than half of all overseas orders.
A Reuters analysis of US FDA data found that exports of MDH products to the US by 2021 have been blocked by about 14.5% due to the presence of salmonella bacteria.
#Investigation #Pesticide #Popular #Indian #Spices
2024-05-29 20:03:35