12% of India’s Spice Samples Fail Quality and Safety Standards in Testing

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted inspections, sampling, and testing of mixed spice blends following Hong Kong’s suspension of sales of certain MDH and Everest brand blends in April due to high pesticide levels. This prompted Britain to tighten controls on all spice imports from India, and other countries, including New Zealand, the United States, and Australia, also expressed concerns about the brands. MDH and Everest have maintained that their products are safe for consumption. These brands are popular in India and are sold in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Data obtained by Reuters under India’s Right to Information Act revealed that 474 out of 4,054 samples tested between May and early July did not meet quality and safety parameters. Despite the agency’s statement that it did not have breakdowns by brand for the tested spices, it assured that necessary action against companies involved was being taken. However, further details or reports on non-conforming samples were not made available. According to Zion Market Research, India’s domestic spice market was valued at $10.44 billion in 2022, with exports reaching a record $4.46 billion in the fiscal year that ended in March.

(*Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed. *)