The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has revoked the manufacturing licences of 111 spice producers over the past month, instructing them to halt production immediate effect.
The action comes after over-the-limit levels of ethylene oxide were found it spice samples of prominent Indian brands including MDH, Everest, Badshah and Catch, among others.
The FSSAI will continue testing around 4000 samples around India and will suspend more licences than the 111 already suspended, if needed.
As per reports, most of cancelled licences come from small-sized spice producers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are also under the regulator’s scanner.
Despite these widespread concerns, recent tests conducted by the FSSAI in May on 34 samples from MDH and Everest found no traces of ethylene oxide, providing some reassurance for these major brands.
It’s worth noting that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) had been issuing early warning alerts regarding the presence of ethylene oxide in Indian spices since before January 2023, indicating that concerns about spice safety have been ongoing for some time.
In response to these challenges, the FSSAI has announced plans to increase permissible pesticide levels by a factor of ten, a move aimed at combating adulteration in the industry.
This regulatory crackdown highlights growing concerns over food safety and adulteration in the spice industry. While major brands like MDH and Everest have been cleared in recent tests, the widespread license cancellations underscore the need for stricter quality control measures across the sector.
The FSSAI’s actions aim to restore consumer confidence and ensure the safety of spice products in the Indian market. However, the process is ongoing, and more cancellations may follow as testing continues.
