Nearly 12% of herbal samples tested failed to meet quality and safety standards, according to data from tests by Indian authorities after several countries took action against contamination risks from two popular brands.
India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority has been conducting inspections, sampling and testing on mixed spice blends after Hong Kong suspended the sale of some blends under the MDH and Everest brands in April due to high levels of a pesticide.
Britain has subsequently tightened controls on all spice imports from India, while New Zealand, the United States and Australia have said they are investigating the problems with the brands.
MDH and Everest have said their products are safe to eat. Their spices are among the most popular in India — the world’s largest exporter, producer and consumer of spices. They are sold in Europe, Asia and North America.
The data, obtained by Reuters under India’s Right to Information Act, showed that 474 of the 4,054 samples tested between May and early July did not meet quality and safety criteria.
The safety agency said in a statement that it did not have brand-by-brand breakdowns of the herbs tested, but that it was taking appropriate action against the companies involved.
“Action has been taken against non-compliant samples as stipulated,” the report said, citing penal provisions in Indian law, without going into details.
Reuters requested reports on all samples that failed tests, but the agency said no such reports were available.
India’s domestic spice market was valued at $10.44 billion in 2022, according to Zion Market Research. Exports of spices and spice products were a record $4.46 billion in the fiscal year ended March.
