Indian food products have once again missed the mark on meeting safety standards. Nearly 12 per cent of spice samples tested by Indian authorities failed to meet the quality and safety standards as per a report by Reuters. This comes after several countries raised concerns about contamination risks in two well-known brands.
After Hong Kong suspended sales of certain products that come under the brands of MDH and Everest, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) carried out inspections and testing of mixed spice blends.
Following this, Britain imposed stricter controls on all spice imports from India. Meanwhile, New Zealand, the US and Australia have also started investigating the issues related to these brands.
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Both domestic brands came under scrutiny, earlier this year, after high levels of ethylene oxide contamination were found in their products. While both companies later assured that their products were safe for consumption, concerns still loom around the safety.
According to data obtained by Reuters under India’s Right to Information Act, out of 4,054 spice samples tested between May and early July, 474 failed to meet quality and safety standards.
Surprisingly, the safety agency did not provide a brand-specific breakdown of the results but confirmed that it is taking necessary action against the companies involved.
What is the value of India's spice market?
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According to Zion Market Research, India’s domestic spice market was valued at $10.44 billion in 2022. In the fiscal year ending in March, the country set a record with $4.46 billion in exports of spices and spice products.
However, these impressive figures could lose their shine if proper measures are not taken to meet the food safety standards. It is worth noting that many brands, including Nestlé's Maggi noodles, have faced similar issues in the past.
