New Delhi, July 3: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has canceled the manufacturing licenses of 111 spice makers, effective immediately, due to the presence of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing pesticide, at levels exceeding permissible limits. This action follows the detection of the chemical in spice samples from India in overseas markets.

According to a TOI report, prominent Indian spice brands such as MDH, Everest, Badshah, and Catch were among those found to have excessive levels of ethylene oxide. The FSSAI plans to test around 4,000 samples nationwide and may suspend additional licenses if further violations are discovered. Most of the canceled licenses belong to small-scale producers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with scrutiny also extending to manufacturers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. FSSAI Denies Permission for Processing and Selling of Human Milk and Its Products.

In June, a campaign against food adulteration by the Rajasthan health department revealed that brands like MDH, Everest, Gajanand, Shyam, and Sheeba Taza were unfit for consumption. MDH’s garam masala was found to contain acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid, while its vegetable and chana masalas contained tricyclazole and profenofos. Shyam’s garam masala had acetamiprid, Sheeba Taza’s raita masala included thiamethoxam and acetamiprid, Everest’s cumin masala had azoxystrobin and thiamethoxam, and Gajanand’s pickle masala contained ethion. The pesticide and insecticide levels in these spices were significantly above permissible limits, posing substantial health risks. How To Check Adulteration in Watermelon With Cotton? Netizens Use FSSAI-Recommended Test To Check If Excessive Red Watermelons Contaminated With Erythrosine, Share Shocking Results.

In May, the FSSAI tested 34 samples from Everest and MDH and did not find ethylene oxide. Tests included parameters such as moisture content, insect and rodent contamination, heavy metals, aflatoxins, and pesticide residues. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued early warning alerts for ethylene oxide in Indian spices since January 2023.

Ethylene oxide is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, posing serious health risks, including an elevated risk of breast cancer. This is not the first time Indian spice brands have faced action abroad; in 2023, the US FDA recalled Everest Food Products after detecting Salmonella.

Due to rising adulteration cases, the FSSAI announced an increase in permissible pesticide levels by ten times to mitigate the issue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2024 01:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).