One batch of a popular cumin powder has now been pulled into a food-safety investigation after a laboratory sample was declared “UNSAFE”. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered an immediate recall of the implicated batch of Everest pre-packed cumin powder after testing found two pesticide residues above the prescribed maximum limits.
The regulator says its DART booklet contains more than 50 tests covering different food products and common adulterants.
A regulatory sample of pre-packed cumin powder was collected from the premises of Riverside Resorts & Holiday Homes Pvt Ltd in Goa, according to FSSAI. The sample was consequently declared “UNSAFE” under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The recall raises a more everyday question for consumers: what should genuine cumin look like, and can adulteration be spotted at home? The Food Analyst detected residues of Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam at levels exceeding the prescribed maximum limits. For powdered spices, FSSAI also provides rapid household tests through its Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART) programme. And the larger lesson goes beyond one packet of cumin. A spice can look, smell and taste normal and still require laboratory testing to establish whether it meets food-safety standards. For consumers, buying properly labelled products, checking recall information and knowing the basic visual signs of adulteration can add one more layer of protection in the kitchen.
