India widens spices crackdown with nationwide checks on all manufacturers

Nhc Foods

02/05/2024 07:53

By Rishika  Sadam
       HYDERABAD, May 2 (Reuters) - India's food safety
regulator said on Thursday it had ordered nationwide testing and
inspections at all companies making spice mixes, widening a
crackdown on the sector as global regulators investigate
contamination issues with two popular local brands.
    Hong Kong last month suspended sales of three spice blends
made by India's MDH and an Everest spice mix for fish curry.
Singapore ordered a recall of the same Everest mix as well,
flagging high levels of ethylene oxide, which is unfit for human
consumption and a cancer risk with long exposure.
    MDH and Everest products are hugely popular in India and
also sold in Europe, Asia and North America, and the companies
have said they are safe. Still, U.S. and Australian food
authorities said they are gathering more information on the
matter, and India had already ordered testing of the two brands'
products.
    The Indian regulator has now ordered officials to conduct
"extensive inspections, sampling and testing at all the
manufacturing units", for powdered spices, with a focus on those
making curry powders and mixed spice blends for local and
foreign sales.
    "Each of the product sampled will be analysed for the
compliance with quality and safety parameters," the Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India said in a statement. 
    The agency added checks would also be made for any presence
of ethylene oxide, whose use is banned in India, and
"appropriate actions will be initiated as fit" after testing was
completed.
    India is the world's biggest exporter, producer and consumer
of spices, and its domestic market for the products was valued
at $10.44 billion in 2022, according to Zion Market Research. 
    Beyond MDH and Everest, other major manufacturers include
Madhusudan Masala  MADD.NS , NHC Foods  NHCF.BO  and consumer
giants Tata Consumer Products  TACN.NS  and ITC  ITC.NS . 

 (Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Jamie
Freed)
 ((Rishika.Sadam@thomsonreuters.com;))