Context: At least five countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong and the U.S., have announced an investigation into possible contamination of spice mixes sold by top Indian brands, MDH and Everest.

More information:

• The complaints cite the presence of ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical used as a food stabiliser, beyond permissible limits.
• The Spices Board of India in response has initiated mandatory testing of products shipped abroad and is reportedly working with exporters to identify the root cause of contamination.

Countries flagging concerns: 

• Hong Kong suspended the sale of three MDH spice blends and Everest spice. 
  • The spice mixes contained high levels of ethylene oxide, advising consumers against purchasing these products.
• Singapore too ordered a recall of the Everest spice mix, highlighting concerns against presence of ‘Ethylene oxide’ which is a pesticide that is not authorised for use in food, posing a cancer risk if exposed for too long.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has previously rejected food and spice imports from India.
  • A scrutiny of FDA’s import refusal report (2023), cites at least 30 instances wherein entry was refused because the products appeared to contain Salmonella. 
  • These are agents known to cause salmonellosis, a common bacterial foodborne illness.
  • Also, there have been at least 11 products being rejected because of misbranding, adulteration, artificial colouring or incorrect labelling.
  • The U.S. Dept of Agriculture stated India and Mexico were top sources of pathogen-based food import refusals. 
• Regulatory bodies in Maldives, Australia and Bangladesh have announced similar plans. 
• The top three importers of India’s curry powders and mixtures, in the fiscal year 2022-23, include the U.S. (₹196.2 crore), U.A.E (₹170.6 crore) and U.K. (₹124.9 crore); followed by Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bangladesh, Oman, Canada, Qatar and Nigeria (Data: Indian Spices Board).
• Overall, China, U.S. U.A.E, Bangladesh and Thailand are the top importers of all spices and spice mixes originating from India.
• Everest and MDH are major players in India’s spice export industry. 

Health concerns: 

• MDH and Everest’s spice mixes allegedly contain high levels of a prohibited pesticide called ethylene oxide (ETO).
  • ETO is a colourless, flammable gas that was originally intended for sterilising medical devices.
  • It is used as a chemical in industrial settings, agriculture, and as a sterilising agent in food products, including spices, dried vegetables and other commodities.
  • The chemical lends life to the spice industry: it reduces microbial contamination, and extends products’ shelf life and makes their storage safe.
• However, the improper and excessive use of ETO may leave behind residues, causing toxic and even carcinogenic compounds to form, thus contaminating the product.
  • One such product is Ethylene glycol, an ingredient found in Indian-made cough syrups which were linked to the deaths of more than 300 children in Cameroon, Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan. 
  • Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide is associated with cancers including lymphoma and leukaemia, some evidence shows.

• A recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) showed carcinogenic chemicals were found in 527 products (including herbs and spices) linked to India between 2020 and 2024. 
• Reasons for ETO traces found in excess:
  • Use of non-approved pesticides and processing techniques aimed to reduce microbiological contamination
• Response by the alleged players: 
  • MDH has called allegations over ETO contamination ‘baseless and unsubstantiated’.
  • It has also added that neither the Spices Board nor the FSSAI have received communication or test reports from Singapore or Hong Kong authorities.

Response by India: 

• The Spices Board, tasked with developing, promoting and regulating the export of spices and spice products, operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • It announced corrective measures, including initiating mandatory testing of consignments shipped to Singapore and Hong Kong and gathering technical details and analytical reports from the relevant food and drug agencies. 
  • Thorough inspections at exporter facilities are also underway to ensure adherence with regulatory standards. 
  • A circular containing guidelines to exporters on preventing ETO contamination is prepared after detailed discussions with the Indian spice industry.
    • Measures include voluntary testing of ETO during raw and final stages. 
    • ETO treated products to be stored separately, to identify ETO as a hazard and incorporate critical control points in hazard analysis. 
    • Exporters are encouraged to use alternate methods such as steam sterilization or irradiation.
• The FSSAI has directed state regulators to collect samples of major spice brands, including MDH and Everest, to test for the presence of ETO.
• FSSAI is also planning to carry out a nationwide surveillance in 2024-25: for fruit and vegetables, salmonella in fish products, spice and culinary herbs, fortified rice and milk and milk products.

Concerns about food safety in India: 

Despite stringent Food laws, the recent controversies collectively underscore the persistent nature of food safety challenges across various sectors of the food industry. 

Concerns about trade and overall spices market: 

• With nearly $700 million worth of exports to critical markets at stake, and potential losses increasing to over half of India’s total spice exports due to cascading regulatory actions in many countries, the future of India’s spice is in delicate balance. 
• The credibility crisis could also spiral out into losses for the masala makers, both smaller and larger players.
• In the event of potential losses, farmers of such crops too could find themselves at the receiving end.
  • There are already cases where certain companies have not paid appropriate prices to farmers even when they were making profits.
  • Now, if the companies make losses, it could be used as a pretext to reduce the prices further, thus, burdening the farmer.
• If regulators in China too take actions, Indian exports could see a ‘dramatic downturn’. 
  • This could affect exports, about 51.1% of the country’s global spice exports.

Way forward: 

• As the mistrust thickens around FSSAI, there is a need for stricter regulatory measures and transparency in food production and safety industry standards.
• There should be a commitment to proactive monitoring and enforcement, rather than reactive responses to individual incidents.
• Regulations must align with the global rules and that is why the food authority must regularly update standards, and handhold exporters.
• Consumers can advocate safer products by staying informed about food safety issues, supporting companies that prioritise safety and transparency and actively engaging with policymakers to demand stronger regulatory measures.
• Awareness needs to be generated among consumers about labels and certifications indicating product safety and quality.
• Government should run campaigns to educate customers on how the food brands use smart marketing techniques to mislead them. 

A country with a growing food market and an aspiration to increase its footprint in the global market needs more proactive regulations and standardisations.