April 27th 2024.
In recent news, food safety officials in the European Union have discovered the presence of a hazardous chemical called ethylene oxide in 527 products linked to India. This alarming finding has resulted in bans on Indian goods in various regions, including Hong Kong and Singapore, due to the potential risk of cancer. Despite the European Food Safety Authority routinely detecting ethylene oxide in Indian products, there has been a lack of proactive measures to address this issue.
From September 2020 to April 2024, 87 shipments were rejected at the border, and others were pulled from markets due to the presence of ethylene oxide. This chemical is commonly used as a pesticide and sterilizing agent, originally intended for medical devices. However, exposure to ethylene oxide has been linked to various types of cancer, such as lymphoma and leukemia.
According to data from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, ethylene oxide was found in 525 food products and two feed products, with India being the primary origin country for 332 of these items. Jubin George Joseph, the Chief Operating Officer of Ramaiah Advanced Testing Labs, stressed the urgency for the Indian government to explore safer alternatives and encourage industries to adopt them.
There are growing concerns among activists about the presence of ethylene oxide in exported goods, highlighting the need for thorough safety checks in local markets. Despite inquiries made to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, there has been no response at the time of publication.
Joseph also pointed out that ethylene oxide is commonly used as a sterilizing agent against harmful bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli. He emphasized the need for more comprehensive testing of this chemical to gain a better understanding of its prevalence.
In response to concerns, the EU has set a limit of 0.1 mg/kg for ethylene oxide, due to its potential toxic breakdown products, 2-chloroethanol and ethylene glycol. In September 2021, the Spices Board advised exporters to conduct tests for ethylene oxide. However, the detection of 121 contaminated products in 2022 and 2023 indicates that Indian products still do not meet quality standards.
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