India's Food Safety Regulator to Inspect MDH and Everest Spices for Cancer-Causing Pesticide

India's food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has announced that it will inspect the popular spice brands MDH and Everest for the presence of the cancer-causing pesticide ethylene oxide. This comes after Hong Kong and Singapore banned and recalled certain spice products from these brands due to concerns over ethylene oxide contamination.

The FSSAI has ordered a pan-India sampling and testing drive of spice products from various brands to check on safety and quality parameters. Food safety commissioners across states and union territories have been directed to collect samples from major manufacturing units of spice companies, and these samples will be tested in NABL-accredited labs.

Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety (CFS) had previously found ethylene oxide in samples of MDH's Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder. Singapore's Food Agency also requested a recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala due to the pesticide's presence.

Why this matters: The presence of a cancer-causing pesticide in widely used spice products raises serious public health concerns. The FSSAI's inspection and testing drive aims to ensure the safety of Indian consumers and maintain the quality standards of spices sold in the country.

Ethylene oxide is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, indicating that it can cause cancer in humans. Its use is not allowed in any food product in India according to FSSAI regulations. Senior government officials stated that any amount of ethylene oxide is not allowed in food products in India as per FSSAI norms.

While exported food products are not under the FSSAI's surveillance, the agency will now sample spices sold in the Indian market to assess if they meet quality standards. The FSSAI has a robust food surveillance program in place to routinely check if marketed products meet regulatory requirements. In 2022-23, 1.77 million food samples were tested, with nearly 45,000 found to be non-conforming, including 6,579 unsafe samples and 21,917 substandard samples.

The government has said that strict action will be taken if harmful substances are found in Indian spices. "No harmful elements have been found in Indian spices so far, but they will now be testing samples more quickly and in greater numbers," government sources stated. The FSSAI is expected to release a consolidated report on the spice testing within 25 days.

Key Takeaways

• India's food regulator FSSAI to inspect MDH and Everest spices for cancer-causing pesticide.
• FSSAI orders pan-India sampling and testing of spice products to check safety and quality.
• Hong Kong and Singapore banned certain MDH and Everest spices due to ethylene oxide contamination.
• Ethylene oxide is a carcinogen, and its use is not allowed in food products in India.
• FSSAI to release a report on spice testing within 25 days, strict action to be taken if harmful substances are found.