The European Union has detected contamination and cancer-causing chemicals in at least 527 products linked to India, according to data from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). These products, including nuts, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, and dietetic foods, have raised concerns among food safety authorities in EU member countries.
Between September 2020 and April 2024, EU authorities rejected 87 consignments at the borders, with India identified as the sole origin country for 332 of them. The remaining products had other countries implicated where the chemical was found.
This revelation comes amidst a ban on Indian products in Hong Kong and Singapore due to traces of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing agent. Although the European Food Safety Authority has routinely detected ethylene oxide in Indian products, no proactive measures have been taken to ban its use.
Ethylene oxide, a colorless gas utilized as a pesticide and sterilizing agent, poses significant health risks. Exposure to it can lead to lymphoma, leukemia, respiratory irritation, lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, breathlessness, and cyanosis. Manufacturers often employ it to disinfect dry foods and medical supplies due to its ability to kill various microorganisms.
To address concerns, the EU has set a limit of 0.1 mg/kg for ethylene oxide and its toxic breakdown products. While most people are not at risk of toxic exposure, individuals working in industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare may face hazardous effects.
Exposure to ethylene oxide primarily occurs through inhalation but can also happen through skin contact or ingestion. Potential sources include industrial emissions, contaminated air, tobacco smoke, and occupational exposure.
In addition to acute side effects, ethylene oxide exposure can cause severe health issues, including fluid accumulation in the lungs leading to collapse, coma, cardiovascular collapse, eye burns, frostbite, and exhaustion.
Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of several cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, and tumors of connective tissue and the uterus.
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