In a shocking revelation, food safety officials of the European Union have confirmed that 527 food items coming from India contain chemicals that cause cancer. This issue came into limelight when the presence of a chemical called ethylene oxide in excess of the prescribed standard was found in the products of India’s famous spice manufacturing companies MDH and Everest. After this report came out, there was a stir in all the countries where the products of these companies are sold. Countries like Hong Kong and Singapore have banned these products and now the European Union is also on the same path.
The European Union has set a limit of 0.1 mg/kg for ethylene oxide, but Indian products The levels found in the study exceed this limit. In such a situation, after this report came, the European Union stopped 87 consignments of such products at the border. While many others have been driven out of the market. Out of 527 such items, 525 were food items. Of these, 332 items were tagged as India. While the rest came from other countries.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted tests on various foods between September 2020 and April 2024. These included products from a wide variety of food categories, the majority of which were nuts and sesame seeds (313), herbs and spices (60).
What is ethylene oxide?
Ethylene oxide is a colorless gas commonly used as an insecticide and sterilizing agent. It is mainly used to sterilize medical equipment, but now it is also being used in agriculture. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen, i.e. a substance that causes cancer.
The presence of ethylene oxide in food products is also worrisome because it can cause ethylene Glycol may form. It is noteworthy that the cough syrup which was recently held responsible for the death of children in Africa contained ethylene glycan.
Exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of various cancers including lymphoma and leukemia. Increases. This chemical’s ability to damage DNA makes it a potent carcinogen, and has both immediate and long-term effects.
India’s Explanation
Indian Food Security and standards authority (FSSAI) has taken proactive steps to address the concerns raised by the EU. FSSAI has started extensive quality checks on spices and other food products to ensure that they meet the safety standards.
How to avoid ethylene oxide
Prevention of ethylene oxide The leading alternative option is gamma ray treatment, which is a non-chemical method of eliminating pathogens and germs in food products.
Gamma ray treatment involves exposing food to controlled amounts of ionizing radiation. This technology is effective in reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects, thereby increasing food safety. The special thing is that by using them one does not have to compromise on the nutrition or taste of the food. This is a method recognized by international food safety agencies, including the FDA and the World Health Organization.
