12% Of India's Tested Spice Samples Fail Safety Standards Amid Contamination Worries

In a latest development, approximately 12% of tested spice samples in India, world's biggest exporter, producer, and consumer of spices, did not meet quality and safety standards. The latest development has come after many countries globally took steps over contaminations risk in two leading brands.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India carried out inspections, sampling and testing of mixed spice blends after Hong Kong suspended sales of some blends of the MDH and Everest brands in April over high levels of a pesticide, according to a report published in Reuters.

Britain then decided to tighten controls on all spices imported from India. Meanwhile, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia said they are investigating into issues pertaining to Everest and MDH brands.

However, MDH and Everest then ruled out the contamination charge and called their products safe for consumption. MDH and Everest's spices gained popularity in India over the years and they are sold in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Meanwhile, the data, obtained by Reuters under India's Right to Information Act, shows 474 of 4,054 samples tested between May and early July failed to meet quality and safety parameters.

The safety agency told Reuters in a statement it did not have breakdowns by brands of the spices it tested but was taking necessary action against companies involved.

"Action on non-conforming samples has been taken as stipulated," it said, referring to penalty provisions under Indian law, without elaborating.

Reuters open records request sought reports on all the samples that failed the tests, but the agency said such reports were unavailable.

Earlier this year on April 23, 2024 Everest responded to a Goodreturns (One India) email on reports pertaining to the ban of their product by food regulators in Singapore and Hong Kong. The reports had claimed that the company's product contained ethylene oxide in specific spice items. The company denied the reports and claimed it to be false.

The company's spokesperson told Goodreturns, "Recent reports suggesting a ban on Everest products in Singapore and Hong Kong are entirely false. We want to clarify that there is no ban in place in either country. Rather, Singapore's food safety authority responded to a recall alert issued in Hong Kong by requesting our importer to temporarily hold and recall one product for additional inspection-a standard procedure aimed at safeguarding consumer interests."

India's domestic spice market estimated at $10.44 billion in 2022, according to Zion Market Research. Its exports of spices and spice products were a record $4.46 billion in the fiscal year that ended in March.