HYDERABAD: Britain’s food watchdog has applied extra control measures on all spice imports from India, it said on Wednesday, becoming the first to ramp up scrutiny of all Indian spices after contamination allegations against two brands sparked concerns among global food regulators.
Hong Kong last month suspended sales of three spice blends produced by MDH and one by Everest, saying they contained high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide ethylene oxide.
Singapore also ordered a recall of the Everest mix, and New Zealand, the United States, India and Australia have since said they are looking into issues related to the two brands.
MDH and Everest — two of India’s most popular brands — have said their products are safe for consumption.
In the most stringent crackdown so far impacting all Indian spices, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that in light of the concerns it has “applied extra control measures for pesticide residues in spices from India which includes ethylene oxide.”
The agency did not elaborate on the exact steps it is taking.
“The use of ethylene oxide is not allowed here and maximum residue levels are in place for herbs and spices,” James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the FSA, said in a statement to Reuters.
“If there is any unsafe food or food on the market, the FSA will take rapid action to ensure consumers are protected.”
India’s Spices Board, which regulates exports, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
India is the biggest exporter, consumer and producer of spices in the world.
In 2022 Britain imported $128 million worth of spices, with India accounting for almost $23 million, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity website shows.
MDH and Everest export their products to many regions including the US, Europe, South East Asia, Middle East and Australia.
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UK tightens scrutiny of all Indian spice imports amid contamination allegations
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UK tightens scrutiny of all Indian spice imports amid contamination allegations
- Hong Kong last month suspended sales of three spice blends produced by MDH and one by Everest
- Singapore ordered a recall of Everest mix, New Zealand, US India, Australia also looking into issues
Remains of last Thai hostage in Gaza repatriated
- The remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport from Tel Aviv
- Israel’s army said last week it had identified Sudthisak’s body which was returned by Hamas
BANGKOK: The body of the last Thai national held hostage in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel was returned home on Wednesday, Thailand’s foreign ministry said.
The remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport from Tel Aviv, ministry official Jeerasak Pomsuwan said, more than two years after the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Sudthisak was 43 and working in agriculture in southern Israel when he was killed on the day of the Hamas attack. His body was then taken to the Gaza Strip and held there throughout the ensuing war.
While Hamas released the living hostages it held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, the process of returning the remains of deceased captives has dragged on.
Israel’s army said last week it had identified Sudthisak’s body which was returned by militants, and handed it over to Thai authorities for burial.
Sudthisak’s father Thongma told local outlet Manager Online that the family had been waiting for his remains so they could perform Buddhist funeral rites in his hometown in the northeastern province of Nong Khai.
Israel’s ambassador to Thailand Alona Fisher-Kamm expressed condolences to Sudthisak’s family during a mourning ceremony in Tel Aviv: “May he rest in peace.”
Thai Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong said in a Facebook post that she would “guarantee the full benefits his family is entitled to.”
Nearly 30,000 Thais work in Israel, according to Thailand’s labor ministry, most of them in the agricultural sector where wages far exceed those at home.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people.
The Thai labor ministry said 47 Thai nationals were killed during the conflict.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the war, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
The remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport from Tel Aviv, ministry official Jeerasak Pomsuwan said, more than two years after the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Sudthisak was 43 and working in agriculture in southern Israel when he was killed on the day of the Hamas attack. His body was then taken to the Gaza Strip and held there throughout the ensuing war.
While Hamas released the living hostages it held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, the process of returning the remains of deceased captives has dragged on.
Israel’s army said last week it had identified Sudthisak’s body which was returned by militants, and handed it over to Thai authorities for burial.
Sudthisak’s father Thongma told local outlet Manager Online that the family had been waiting for his remains so they could perform Buddhist funeral rites in his hometown in the northeastern province of Nong Khai.
Israel’s ambassador to Thailand Alona Fisher-Kamm expressed condolences to Sudthisak’s family during a mourning ceremony in Tel Aviv: “May he rest in peace.”
Thai Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong said in a Facebook post that she would “guarantee the full benefits his family is entitled to.”
Nearly 30,000 Thais work in Israel, according to Thailand’s labor ministry, most of them in the agricultural sector where wages far exceed those at home.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people.
The Thai labor ministry said 47 Thai nationals were killed during the conflict.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the war, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
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