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527 Indian food products cause cancer : European Union’s baseless claim

A few days ago, Hong Kong and Singapore food regulators issued a recall on Indian spices sold by popular brands, Everest and MDH

New Delhi – After the Hong Kong and Singapore food regulators issued a recall on Indian spices sold by popular brands claiming to find Ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic chemical, the European Union has also made a similar claim. According to the report published by the European Food Safety Authority, European Union food safety authorities found contamination in 527 products linked to India. Data from RASFF revealed that ethylene oxide was detected in 525 food products and two feed products. This chemical is associated with various cancers.

“The European organization has not taken any measures to stop the use of this chemical,” she said. According to a report by an English newspaper, food safety officials in the European Union are said to have detected the hazardous substance between September 2020 and April 2024. These products include walnuts and sesame seeds, medicines, spices and other food items.

The ‘Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed’ (RASFF) is an online system that monitors food safety standards in European countries. Its statistics show that the chemical has been found in 525 foods and 2 feed products. While India was mentioned as the sole origin country for 332 of them, authorities tagged other countries where the chemical was found for the remaining products.

What is ethylene oxide ?

Ethylene oxide is a colourless gas, which is used as an insecticide. However, this chemical was originally proven to sterilise medical equipment. Exposure to ethylene oxide is said to increase the risk of other cancers, including lymphoma and leukaemia.

Editorial Perspective

An anti-India campaign cannot be ruled out after a series of such claims are being made globally. If 527 Indian products contained cancer-causing ingredients, India would have been plagued with cancers. Therefore the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)  should give a befitting response to such allegations.

The quantity of carcinogen should be studied: Renowned cancer surgeon Dr Shekhar Salkar, Manipal Hospital, Goa

In this regard, the representative of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ spoke with Dr Shekhar Salkar, the famous cancer surgeon and expert consultant at Manipal Hospital in Goa. Dr Salkar said that it was necessary to find out the amount of Ethylene Oxide’ in those food items. If it is 1 ppm (1/10 lakh units), then no harm can occur. As against this, carcinogenic substances are more in processed and packed food items. On the other hand, 400 people suffer from cancer out of every 1,00,000 people in the US. In India, it is only 100. He said that Indians always consumed cooked food. Therefore, even if there is a carcinogenic substance in the original food, it is released through steaming during cooking.

Dr Salkar further said, that if Indian food was being targeted in that way, then the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India should look into it and make efforts. If FSSAI does not take any steps, then the quality of Indian food products will be looked at with bias. Such allegations tarnish the image of the country. If the international institutions have an ulterior motive of establishing their supremacy, then they should also remember that it would eventually harm them.

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