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A preliminary investigation has been conducted by the Spices Board on chilli powder exports. It has been indicated that:
The export consignment believed to have been contaminated with Sudan 1 was imported into the UK in 2002.
No documentary evidence has been given by the UK’s Food Standard Agency (FSA) so far that establishes the involvement of Indian exporters.
The reported presence of Sudan in many of the Rapid Alert reports issued by countries in the European Union was too low to be suggestive of deliberate adulteration. To that extent, some of the Rapid Alerts can be disputed.
The export licence of the firms, who have been found to be repeatedly indulging in adulteration, have been suspended.
Indicating this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Shri EVKS Elangovan, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, said some European Countries including Britain had reportedly found Sudan, a carcinogenic dye, in some consignments of chilli powder exported from India. Recently, UK’s FSA ordered a recall of 575 products in which red chilli powder alleged to be contaminated with Sudan 1 dye was used as ingredient.
Exports of chillis / chilli products from India have not been affected, as is evident from substantial increase in the exports of chilli. Total exports of chilli from India was 114,000 tonnes (valued at Rs.421.21 crore) during April 2004 to January 2005 as compared to 54,000 tonnes (valued at Rs.243.81 crore) in the corresponding period of previous year.
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