New Delhi, A series of international warnings and bans have heightened global concerns regarding the safety of Indian food products, particularly spices, due to contamination issues. Several countries and regulatory bodies have taken action against these imports, citing significant health risks.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the scrutiny intensified after the Hong Kong Food Safety Center issued warnings about the presence of ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical linked to cancer, in spices exported from India. This chemical’s presence has led to a broader examination of food safety practices in India, with Singapore, Maldives, and Hong Kong banning Indian spices. Moreover, the European Union Food Safety Authority has banned over 500 Indian spice exports in the past five years due to similar concerns.
The issue extends beyond spices, affecting nuts, dry fruits, and other food items that have been flagged as substandard. In the United States, a critical situation unfolded last year when more than 30% of spice imports from India were rejected for toxicity and chemical adulteration. The pharmaceutical sector is also under scrutiny, following an incident in February 2024 where 68 children in Uzbekistan died from consuming cough syrup produced in India, found to contain dangerously high levels of ethylene glycol.
Critics have pointed out that these ongoing safety issues are being overshadowed by the political agenda of the Modi government, raising questions about the administration’s commitment to addressing these critical health and safety concerns.