April 25, 2024, New Delhi: Reports of food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore having banned packaged spices manufactured by MDH and Everest Group after they were found to contain ethylene oxide, a pesticide classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a 'Group 1 carcinogen', has made Indian food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) take note. The FSSAI is reported to have ordered quality checks on MDH and Everest Group brand products, Reuters reported. According to the Centre for Food Safety of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they had collected samples of three of MDH's pre-packaged spice products - 'Madras Curry Powder', 'Sambhar Masala Powder' and ‘Curry Powder’; and Everest Group's 'Fish Curry Masala' for testing under its routine food surveillance programme when it detected the presence of the pesticide. In Singapore too the food regulator found carcinogenic ingredients in the products of both companies, following which authorities have directed the importer of the two brands of spices to initiate a recall of the products. The news from Hong Kong and Singapore is not the first case of adulterated spices having been found.

Consumers in India have been regularly expressing concerns about unsafe food as well as the rise in cases of cancer in their social networks on LocalCircles which recently spiked after the MDH and Everest related reports as many urban and semi-urban households use products from these brands on a regular basis. LocalCircles conducted a survey to understand the pulse of the consumer on the all-important issue of food safety. The survey received over 24,000 responses from consumers located in 293 districts of India. 61% respondents were men while 39% respondents were women. 40% respondents were from tier 1, 31% from tier 2 and 29% respondents were from tier 3 & 4 districts.

72% consumers of packaged spices that were surveyed are concerned about safety of spices after carcinogens were reported in MDH and Everest products

The survey first asked consumers, “Spices from MDH and Everest brands have been found to have carcinogens (cancer causing substances) by regulators in Singapore and Hong Kong. Have you been consuming spices from these brands?” The question received 12,361 responses with 62% stating “Yes, have been consuming and I am concerned” while 18% stated that “Yes, have been consuming but I am not concerned”. Of the remaining respondents, 10% stated “No, have not been consuming but I am concerned as other brands that I consume may also have a similar issue” and 10% stated “No, have not been consuming and I am not concerned about other brands that I am consuming having a similar issue”. To sum up, 72% consumers of packaged spices that were surveyed are concerned about safety of spices after carcinogens were reported in MDH and Everest products.

73% consumers surveyed have no or low confidence that FSSAI and state food regulators are doing their bit in the area of licensing, audits and corrective actions by violators to ensure food safety

Every instance of adulteration of food products whether milk, fruits, vegetables, or other processed food products makes consumers wary. The survey next asked consumers. “How much confidence do you have in food regulators (FSSAI and your state food departments) that they are doing their bit (effective due diligence for licensing and its renewal, audit, corrective actions, etc.) to ensure food safety for consumers?” Only 3% out of 12.308 consumers who responded to the question stated that they have “high confidence” in the food regulators, while 24% stated that they have “average confidence”. But most respondents share no such confidence. 36% of respondents stated they have “no confidence at all” and 37% indicated “low confidence” in food regulators. To sum up, 73% of consumers surveyed have no or low confidence that FSSAI and state food regulators are doing their bit when it comes to licensing, audits and taking corrective actions against violators to ensure food safety.

In summary, the survey brings to fore that 72% of consumers of packaged spices are concerned about the safety of spices they buy and consume after carcinogens were reported in MDH and Everest products. What is more worrying is that 73% of consumers surveyed have no or low confidence that FSSAI and state food regulators are doing their bit when it comes to licensing, audits and taking corrective actions against violators to ensure food safety for the public. Feedback from citizens who are also food business owners indicates how in many cases there is rampant corruption that takes place on the ground in areas like securing a food license, audits and in cases of violations. The government – both central and states - need to take note of the public concerns and really strengthen standards, their implementation, ethics and governance as adulterated food products can have long term negative health impact on large sections of society which consumes them regularly and lead to a trust breakdown with consumers.

72% Indians concerned about spices they consume, express low or no confidence on food regulators like FSSAIApr 25, 2024The survey highlighted a broader issue of consumer confidence in food regulators. A startling 73% of respondents expressed either no confidence or low confidence in the ability of agencies like FSSAI and other similar state food regulators to ensure food safety through licensing, audits and corrective actions against violators.https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/72-indians-concerned-about-spices-they-consume-express-low-or-no-confidence-on-food-regulators-like-fssai-426821-2024-04-25?utm_source=btweb_story_sharearticleBT

Hong Kong, Singapore\'s ban on Indian spices raises concerns at homeApr 25, 2024NEW DELHI:  After Hong Kong and Singapore banned four products of two popular Indian spices brands after detecting carcinogenic ingredients, most Indians ahttps://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Apr/25/hong-kong-singapores-ban-on-indian-spices-raises-concerns-at-homearticleTNIE

72% Packaged Spices Consumers in India Concerned After Hong Kong, Singapore Bans, Says LocalCircles Survey - News18Apr 25, 2024Consumers in India have pressed the panic button after Hong Kong and Singapore banned packaged spices manufactured by MDH and Everest Group after they were found to contain cancer causing elements.https://www.news18.com/india/72-packaged-spices-consumers-in-india-concerned-after-hong-kong-singapore-bans-says-localcircles-survey-8865377.htmlarticleNews18

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) | Over seven in 10 consumers lack confidence in India’s food regulatory authorities’ capacity to ensure food safety - Telegraph IndiaApr 25, 2024Survey by Local Circles, online community platform, has found that 36 per cent of over 12,300 respondents from 293 districts said they had no confidence at all and 37 per cent said they had low confidence in country’s food regulatory authoritieshttps://www.telegraphindia.com/india/over-seven-in-10-consumers-lack-confidence-in-indias-food-regulatory-authorities-capacity-to-ensure-food-safety/cid/2015601articleTelegraph

Video | "7 In 10 People Aren\'t Confident Of Our Food Safety Bodies": Entrepreneur Sachin TapariaApr 28, 2024While speaking on NDTV\'s We The People, Founder & Chairman of LocalCircles, Sachin Taparia, spoke of the troublesome results found by his survey which showed that 70% of respondents did not believe in the reliability of FSSAI or state food safety bodies. He also said that 72% of people were concerned about household spices after adverse ingredients were found in big brands such as Everest and MDH.https://www.ndtv.com/video/7-in-10-people-aren-t-confident-of-our-food-safety-bodies-entrepreneur-sachin-taparia-779784articleNDTV

Singapore’s recall of popular spice mix prompts domestic food safety concerns in IndiaMay 03, 2024Spices from India have also come under the scanner in Hong Kong, Australia, the US and EU. Read more at straitstimes.com.https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/singapore-s-recall-of-popular-spice-mix-prompts-domestic-food-safety-concerns-in-indiaarticleTST