UK TO TIGHTEN REGULATIONS ON ALL INDIAN SPICE IMPORTS AMID CONTAMINATION ALLEGATION

Fri 17 May 2024:

Britain’s food regulator has imposed additional control measures on all spice imports from India, it announced on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

This makes Britain the first country to enhance scrutiny of all Indian spices following contamination allegations against two popular brands, MDH and Everest, which have raised concerns among global food authorities.

Last month, Hong Kong suspended sales of three spice blends from MDH and one from Everest, citing high levels of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide. Singapore also recalled the Everest mix, and authorities in New Zealand, the United States, India, and Australia have begun investigating issues related to these two brands.

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Both MDH and Everest, among India’s most renowned spice brands, maintain that their products are safe for consumption.

In the most stringent crackdown so far impacting all Indian spices, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that in light of the concerns it has “applied extra control measures for pesticide residues in spices from India which includes ethylene oxide.”

The agency did not elaborate on the exact steps it is taking.

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“The use of ethylene oxide is not allowed here and maximum residue levels are in place for herbs and spices,” James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the FSA, said in a statement to Reuters.

“If there is any unsafe food or food on the market, the FSA will take rapid action to ensure consumers are protected.”

India is the biggest exporter, consumer and producer of spices in the world.

In 2022 Britain imported $128 million worth of spices, with India accounting for almost $23 million, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity website shows.

MDH and Everest export their products to many regions including the US, Europe, South East Asia, Middle East and Australia.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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