UK Imposes Strict Controls On Indian Spice Imports Amid Contamination Concerns
Following reports of contamination allegations against spices imported from India, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has imposed strict control measures on all spice imports from the country.
The Deputy Director of Food Policy, James Cooper, stated that the use of ethylene oxide is not permitted in the UK. “Maximum residue levels are in place for herbs and spices,” he added, as quoted by Reuters. However, the food safety regulator did not explain the details regarding the measures taken.
The UK food regulator stated that it had been issuing warning alerts for the carcinogen in several spice mixes imported from India since before January 2023 via its monthly imports EWS notifications for enforcement officers at UK ports.
In April, Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) issued a warning following the discovery of ethylene oxide (ETO), a cancer-causing pesticide, in prepackaged spice mix products primarily from MDH (Sambhar Masala, Mixed Masala Powder, Madras Curry Powder, and Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder) and Everest’s Fish Curry Masala.
While both brands claim their products are safe, countries including New Zealand, India, Australia, and the US are investigating the issue. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has banned and recalled certain spices from MDH and Everest, and Singapore has recalled the Everest fish curry mix.
Additionally, Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control banned imports, consumption, and sale of all products of MDH and Everest in May.
Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, ETO increases the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer, leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells), and lymphoma.
Meanwhile, the FSSAI has raised the maximum pesticide residue limit (MRL) from 0.01 to 0.1 milligrams per kilograms to align with the standards mentioned in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international food standards body. The food authority clarified that India follows the most strict standards of MRL in the world and the residue levels of pesticides are fixed differently based on the food commodities and on the pesticides risk assessments. The FSSAI added that out of the total 295 registered pesticides, 139 are registered for use in spices. This relaxation would indicate more rejections of Indian spice mixes when exported to large markets, Dileep Kumar, CEO of Pesticide Action Network, told Economic Times.
Exporting over 200 spices and value-added products to roughly 180 countries worth $4 billion in 2021-22, India is among the world’s leading spice producers, as per the Spices Board of India.
