Cancer-causing chemicals have been found in 527 metal products exported from India or the country is involved in the production in some way. From September 2020 to April 2024, the food safety authorities of the European Union have found carcinogenic elements in these food products.
According to a report by the Indian media Deccan Herald, most of the food products that have been found to contain carcinogens, 313, are nuts and oilseed products. 60 herbs and spices, 48 dietetic foods and 34 other food products.
These food products have already been banned in Europe. Removed from the market. A colorless gas called ethylene oxide was used as a pesticide and disinfectant, the European Union claims.
The chemical is used to sterilize medical equipment. But if this chemical enters the body in any way, the risk of lymphoma and leukemia is very high.
An organization called 'Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed' (RASFF) monitors food safety issues in European Union countries.
They said the chemical was found in 525 food products. Out of this, 332 products are exported directly from India. Rest of the food products also have India's involvement.
Zubin George Joseph, chief officer of Ramaiah Advanced Testing Labs, a food testing institute, said that apart from ethylene oxide, two other chemicals were found.
The most dangerous of these, he said, is ethylene glycol. The chemical was found in cough syrup in Africa. Many children died after consuming the syrup. According to Joseph, ethylene oxide is used to sterilize medical equipment. But it is important to have an alternative.
According to him, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the food quality and safety authority of India, should consider if gamma rays can be used as an alternative disinfectant. They should encourage various industries to think about it.
In this situation, a social worker in India expressed concern and said that the food products that are exported abroad are of the best quality. If they are in this condition, then who knows the condition of what is sold in the local market. They also need to be tested.
Analysts fear a collapse in Indian food exports due to the presence of cancerous ingredients in so many food products. In their view, the way exporters are finding the existence of poisons in food products, these food products will soon be included in the list of prohibitions in different countries. Because Indian spices have already been banned in Hong Kong and Singapore.
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