Rajasthan's health department, as part of its anti-adulteration campaign, performed quality tests and discovered that samples from prominent Indian spice brands failed to meet the required standards. As per media reports, a focused operation was initiated on May 8 to collect spices that exceeded the allowable limits by a considerable margin, indicating significant health hazards.

Throughout this initiative, 93 samples from diverse companies were gathered. Brands such as MDH, Everest, Gajanand, Shyam, and Sheeba Taza were considered unfit for consumption. State Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar has enforced strict measures against these companies under the Indian Food Safety and Standards Act, including the immediate seizure of the unsafe spices.

Food safety commissioner Iqbal Khan affirmed that samples from additional spices made by these companies, as well as more batches of the unsafe ones, will also be gathered. He instructed the chief medical and health officers to confiscate impacted lots or batches of spices from these brands, manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers. Furthermore, guidelines were issued to gather samples of additional spices and spice powders from these brands.

Shubhra Singh, the additional chief secretary (health), stated that a report from the State Central Public Health Laboratory revealed that some samples contained significantly elevated levels of pesticides and insecticides. She added that letters had been dispatched to all designated officers and chief medical and health officers across the state, directing them to confiscate the hazardous spices. 

Shyam's garam masala had acetamiprid, Sheeba Taza's raita masala contained thiamethoxam and acetamiprid, Gajanand's pickle masala included ethion, and Everest's cumin masala contained azoxystrobin and thiamethoxam.

MDH's garam masala comprised acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid, while its vegetable masala and chana masala featured tricyclazole and profenofos.

As MDH's manufacturing plants are located in Haryana, and Everest and Gajanand's are in Gujarat, letters have been sent to the food safety commissioners of these states for necessary measures. Moreover, a correspondence was forwarded to the chief executive officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in New Delhi, requesting their participation.

Source - Times Of India