UK Food Watchdog Warned About Indian Spices Since January 2023
The agency has established extra control measures on all spices imported from India.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has said that it has already been issuing early warning alerts for ethylene oxide in various spices from India since before January 2023.
The agency has established extra control measures on all spices imported from India. The UK FSA is among the first to increase scrutiny on all Indian spices after contamination allegations against two Indian spice brands—MDH and Everest.
Natasha Smith, deputy director of food policy at the FSA, mentioned that they had applied extra control measures for pesticide residues in spices from India, which include ethylene oxide.
"The use of ethylene oxide is not allowed here, and maximum levels (maximum residue levels) are in place for herbs and spices. If there is any unsafe food or food on the market, the FSA will take rapid action to ensure consumers are protected,” she said.
Ethylene oxide is typically used to control the presence of pathogens such as salmonella. However, the use of it is banned in the UK.
Port Health authorities may also conduct sampling to check compliance, with legislative requirements for all imported foods including spices, according to the statement.
Food businesses are supposed to ensure that the food is safe and compliant. If commodities are found to be above the maximum residue levels, then the businesses must take action, it said.
Further, where required, the watchdog will provide advice on a case-by-case basis to local authority enforcement officers. This will help to support their advice and enforcement action with food businesses along with notifying the exporting country of the non-compliance, it said.
