The Hindu Business Line : EU alert on contamination in star anise, cinnamon

In a rapid alert notification, the European Union has informed of potential contamination of whole star anise and cinnamon from Vietnam with a non-approved colour known as chrysoidine.

The Spices Board said Indian importers of whole star anise and Saigon cinnamon and manufacturing units of curry powders and garam masalas were required to make sure that the imported consignments of these were free from the non-approved food colour chrysoidine.

This is to avoid rejection and recall of export consignments, the Board said in a statement issued here.

Food colour not permitted

The notification issued by the European Commission (Health and Consumers, Directorate General) recently in Brussels has observed that chrysoidine is a genotoxic carcinogen, exposure of which to a person’s diet will increase the risk of cancer. It has been informed that there are no analytical methods now available to test this. This is not a permitted food colour in the EU.

Saigon cinnamon

The notification says that it has received limited intelligence regarding potential contamination of whole star anise (Illicium Verum) and Saigon cinnamon known as Vietnamese Cassia (Cinnamomum loureirii) of Vietnamese origin.

There are several forms of cinnamon/cassia and intelligence received relates to Saigon cinnamon. Cinnamon and other forms of cassia are not implicated in this issue.

The EU notification also states that they had received this information through their normal horizon scanning activities. It also maintained that the intelligence is in relation to consignments destined for the market. Further, it clarified that there is no evidence for this product entering in the food chain in Europe.

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