Food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found no traces of ethylene oxide in spice samples from two leading brands MDH and Everest. News agency PTI quoted sources as saying that the samples were tested in 28 accredited laboratories. However, reports from six other laboratories are still pending. Let us tell you that last month, in view of the quality concerns raised by Hong Kong and Singapore, FSSAI started sampling all brands of spices including MDH and Everest from across the country.
Contents
Proceedings of Hong Kong, Singapore and Nepal
Let us tell you that in the month of April, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong advised consumers not to buy MDH’s Madras Curry Powder (Masala Mix for Madras Curry), Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambar Mix Masala Powder and. MDH asked traders not to buy and sell curry powder mix masala powder. The CFS said the pesticide ethylene oxide was detected in various samples of two Indian brands of pre-packaged spice-mix products. After this, the Singapore Food Agency also directed the recall of such spices. At the same time, recently Nepal has also imposed restrictions on the spices of these two companies.
The government took strict measures
Meanwhile, the government in India tightened its grip on spices. The government not only tested spice samples locally but also issued guidelines to prevent ETO (ethylene oxide) contamination in exported spices. The government has also taken other measures such as mandatory testing of spices exported to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Let us tell you that in the financial year 2023-24, India’s spice exports totaled 4.25 billion dollars, which was 3.7 billion dollars in 2022-23. India’s share in global spice exports is 12 percent.