Achi news desk-
New Delhi10 minutes agoAuthor: Sanjay Sinha
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Ethylene Oxide Testing (ETO) will be done on spices sent from India to Singapore and Hong Kong. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Spice Board have made it mandatory for exporting companies.
Furthermore, the spices sent to other countries will also be monitored for ETO. This decision has been taken after Singapore and Hong Kong banned some spice brands from Indian spice companies MDH and Everest.
An ETO investigation is not new. ETO inspection is already mandatory for shipments sent from India to European Union countries and the United Kingdom. While in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, ‘Aflatoxin’ and ‘Sudan Dye Testing’ are mandatory before exporting spices.
Aflatoxin and Sudan dye (I to IV) can cause serious skin and stomach problems, including cancer.
Claim of pesticides found in spices
Singapore banned Everest fish curry masala after high levels of ethylene oxide were found in it. Ethylene oxide has been detected in fish curry masala in excess of the permitted amount. While Hong Kong claimed to have found pesticides in Indian spice brand MDH Madras Curry Powder, Mixed Masala Powder and Sambhar Masala.
Hong Kong’s food safety regulator asked consumers not to buy these products, while the Singapore Food Agency removed all such products from the market.
Ethylene oxide can cause breast cancer
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IARC), ethylene oxide has been shown to cause cancer. Ethylene oxide increases the risk of lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer.
If someone takes even small amounts of ethylene oxide for a long time, it can cause DNA damage and affect the brain and nervous system.
This can cause eye, skin and respiratory diseases.
Ethylene glycol is a by-product of ethylene oxide. Recently, many people died in Africa because of ethylene glycol found in cough syrup.
According to the National Cancer Institute, ethylene oxide is present as a gas that has a sweet smell. Ethylene oxide is used in medical products, cosmetics and many industries.
It is used in spices so that harmful bacteria cannot grow in it. That is, this is done to keep it safe. It is used as a sterilizing agent in many industries.
Ethylene oxide in 527 products sent to European countries
After detecting discrepancies in spices in Singapore and Hong Kong, FSSAI and the Spice Board have issued various instructions regarding spices exported from India. However, this type of advice is not new.
The Spice Board had issued advice regarding the quality of spices and other food items sent abroad in 2021. Despite this, defects were found in 121 food products sent abroad in 2022 and 2023.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regularly tests the amount of ethylene oxide in products sent from India. According to data received by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the Food Authority of the European Union has found ethylene oxide in 527 products shipped from India between September 2020 and April 2024.
Items found to be contaminated include almonds, flaxseed, herbs, spices and other foods. Out of 527 products, 87 consignments were rejected at the border while many were withdrawn from the market.
Keeping toxicity in mind, the European Union has set a limit of 0.1 mg in one kg.
A big racket of tainted spices within the country
Raids are conducted in different parts of the country when tainted spices and other food products are found to be lacking. The supply of these perishable food items increases during holidays.
See this list of recent raids on tainted spices-
- March 2024: In Jamshedpur, he was caught preparing spices from wood sawdust, brick powder and artificial colours.
- 7 October 23: Fake cumin and black pepper were being supplied in Jindpur, North Delhi. The police raided and caught him.
- May 2023: 3,057 kg of tainted chilli powder, turmeric and coriander were seized at Kadodara in Gujarat’s Surat district.
- April 2023: Police and Food and Control Administration seized 61,690 kg of adulterated spices in Nadiad, Gujarat. Chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and masala pickle were seized during the raid.
- December 2020: 3 quinals of adulterated spices were seized in Hathras, UP. Donkey dung, acid and straw were added to these spices.
Last year, several sacks of fake cumin were seized in North Delhi’s Jindpur village. In the raid, 400 bags of carba seeds (Dutch cumin), 50 bags of carrot seeds, 50-60 bags of fake cumin, 5 cans of jaggery molasses, 4-5 bags of marble stone powder, 300 bags of coriander, 200 bag of poor quality fennel, 100 bags of polished Got black pepper.
The arrested people were making fake cumin seeds using a type of grass, stone powder and special molasses. Most of the raw material for making fake cumin was brought from Rajasthan. Fake cumin was sent not only to Delhi but also to many states of the country.
sawdust mixed with spices
Adulterers add such things to spices that people cannot even think of.
A few years ago, the police in Patna seized many sacks of spices prepared from wood powder and other dangerous chemicals.
The police also found rotten rice and its flour. Substandard rice flour was colored and mixed with vegetable masala. Even the bran was colored and mixed with spices.
Horse dung mixed in coriander powder. While rice, bran, many types of chemicals and spice flavors are added to meat masala. A small amount of chili powder, brick powder and other chemicals were mixed. Yellow color, turmeric flavor, dry papaya leaves are added to turmeric powder.
while going
Indian spices have been in high demand throughout the world for centuries. Even today India is the largest exporter of spices in the world. Last year, India exported spices worth Rs 32,000 crore ie about 2 billion tonnes. India is number one in the world in chilli, cumin and turmeric. While demand for cloves, fennel, curry powder, cardamom and cinnamon is also high.
The Government of India promotes spices in the name of ‘Brand India’. India has set a target to export spices worth Rs 84,000 crore by 2027. Three states, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala provide 50% of the spices exported. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have a share of 60% in chilli exports.
It is clear that India has a big identity in the world when it comes to spices. Spice is consumed on a large scale within the country. In such a situation, it is necessary to regularly check not only the spices that are exported but also the spices that are supplied in the country. Severe punishment should be given to those involved in irregularities and defamation.
