US Trade Body says Ethylene Oxide (ETO) is safe for treatment of spices

The American authority has found it to be in the acceptable limits in some of the product offerings from India.

The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) has stated that, as per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), consumption of spices treated with ethylene oxide (ETO) is safe. The decision was prompted after reports suggested ethylene oxide residue in a few of the Indian spice blends that were produced by the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) giants like Everest and MDH. The American authority has found it to be in the acceptable limits in some of the product offerings from India. 

The ASTA also wrote to the Spices Board of India, offering clarification on the recent reports about ethylene oxide usage in spices exported to the US. In the letter, the board mentioned that ethylene oxide is currently permitted for use on spices in the US "and prohibiting this critical treatment method has the potential to result in serious unintended implications regarding compliance of Indian spices with US food safety regulations." It further read that ethylene oxide is an approved antimicrobial fumigant in the US. 

The confirmation from the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) regarding the safety of ethylene oxide (ETO) treated spices provides much-needed reassurance amid recent concerns. This validation not only addresses specific issues with Indian spice blends but also highlights the importance of international regulatory alignment in ensuring food safety standards worldwide.

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