After some samples of popular spice brands failed tests in Rajasthan, the state government has written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requesting direction in the matter as well as to governments of Gujarat and Haryana for action against the erring brands as they house the manufacturing units. As per Additional Chief Secretary, Medical, Health and Family Welfare department, Shubhra Singh, a special campaign was launched on May 8 last month to collect samples in all districts of the state. Under the campaign, a total of 93 samples from various companies, including renowned companies, were collected. Subsequently, as per the report of the State Central Public Health Laboratory, very high amounts of pesticides and insecticides were found in some samples. As per Iqbal Khan, Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Control, high quantities of pesticides and insecticides were found in the samples of MDH, Everest, Gajanand, Shyam and Ciba Taaza during the tests which are “very harmful” for health. As per the tests, MDH’s Garam Masala had traces of Acetamiprid, Thiamethoxam, and Imidacloprid, its Sabzi Masala and Chana Masala had Tricyclazole and Profenofos while Everest Spices’ Jeera Masala had Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam. Shyam spices company’s Garam Masala too had Acetamiprid; Ciba Taaza’s Raita Masala had Acetamiprid and Thiamethoxam; and Gajanand spices’ Achaar Masala had Ethion. After the results, Medical and Health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar directed the officials to organise a special campaign and instructions were given to all designated officers and Chief Medical and Health Officers of the state to seize the spices found unsafe during which over 12,000 kilograms was seized on June 8. Additionally, since the manufacturing unit of MDH spices is located in Haryana and that of Everest and Gajanand spices in Gujarat, letters have written to the respective state Food Safety Commissioners for action. Besides, a letter has also been written to the Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI for action in the matter. Talking to The Indian Express, ACS Singh said that this development came after Singapore banned some Indian spices – which were found to contain carcinogens – and as it was a matter of public health. She said that since the manufacturers have maintained that they do not add these insecticides, the letter to FSSAI is with regards to further instructions on how to proceed in the matter. The representation from the masala lobby is that they don't add any insecticides or pesticides during the processing and “that it is coming from the soil itself, in the produce they are taking. It is not a top up but is intrinsic,” ACS Singh said. She added that while the concerns remain and will need to be addressed as it’s a wider issue, “shutting down factories is not on the anvil.” An official added that since Rajasthan can't directly act against manufacturing units in the other two states, it has asked FSSAI to ensure that they take action.
