A study conducted on Indian food products from September 2020 to April 2024 in Europe, revealed that 527 products had cancer-causing chemicals.

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is an online system that monitors food safety standards in European countries.

According to RASFF data, 525 food products and 2 feed products contained ethylene oxide. Of these, 332 products are also said to have direct links to India, while the remaining products are attributed to other countries.

The flagged products include: 

• Dry fruits, seeds: 313
• Herbs, spices: 60
• Dietetic foods, food supplements, fortified food: 48
• Other food products: 34
• Cereals, bakery products: 26
• Food additives, flavourings: 24
• Vegetables, fruits: 10
• Soups, sauces, flavour enhancers: 4

Of these products, 87 consignments were sent back at the border, while most of the products have been phased out after entering the market.

The reports, however, suggested that none of them are banned in the European Union.

The same chemical led to a ban on MDH and Everest products in Singapore and Hong Kong earlier this week. 

What is ethylene oxide?

Ethylene oxide is used as an insecticide and was also developed to sterilise medical instruments.

Exposure to ethylene oxide is said to increase the risk of cancers.

According to various studies, it increases the risk of developing cancers including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma and lymphocytic leukaemia, breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, and uterine cancer.