1 In 3 Household Consumers Likely To Refrain From Buying MDH and Everest Spices: LocalCircles Survey

Amid the FSSAI’s order to MDH and Everest to take “corrective measures”, weeks after spices produced by these companies were found to allegedly contain high levels of pesticide ethylene oxide beyond permissible limits, one in three household consumers are likely to refrain from buying MDH and Everest spices, a LocalCircles survey has found. Both MDH and Everest have maintained that their products are safe.

The survey received over 27,000 responses from household consumers located in 306 districts of India. While 61% respondents were men, 39% respondents were women. Around 40% respondents were from tier 1, 27% from tier 2 and 33% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

17% CONSUMERS LIKELY TO CONTINUE BUYING

The survey first asked, “Certain spices from MDH and Everest brands have been found to have Ethylene Oxide (a cancer-causing substance) by regulators in Singapore and Hong Kong and several countries have banned their spices as well. What is your household doing on spices consumption with regards to these brands?”

The question received 13,891 responses with only 17% of respondents stating that they are “still consuming what’s at home and replenishing stock of spiced from these brands”. Of the remaining respondents, 16% stated that they are “still consuming what’s at home but buying packs of other brands instead”; 20% of respondents stated that they “have disposed packs of these brands that were at home and buying spices from other brands instead”; 42% of respondents stated that they “did not have any spices from these two brands in use and will not be buying their spices till we are sure of their quality” and 5% of respondents did not give a clear reply.

58% SAY ACTIONS OF FOOD REGULATOR, STATE FOOD DEPTS HASN’T INCREASED CONFIDENCE

The survey next asked consumers, “Have the actions taken by FSSAI (India’s food regulator) and your state food department since the Everest and MDH spices issue was reported increased your confidence in food safety in India?”

The question received 13,782 responses with 58% of respondents stating “no, absolutely not” and 28% not giving a clear response as they “don’t know what actions have been taken.

Only 14% of respondents stated “yes, they have” increased confidence in food safety in India. In essence, 58% consumers surveyed say actions of the food regulator and state food departments post the MDH, Everest reports hasn’t increased their confidence; 28% of those surveyed are unaware of what food safety actions have been taken.

SUMMARY

The survey shows that 36% of consumers are likely to refrain from buying spices of the two brands (MDH and Everest) in the near future. However, 17% of consumers are likely to continue buying despite the safety issues surrounding these brands. On the food regulators, 58% consumers surveyed say their actions so far have not instilled any confidence about food safety, while 28% stated that they are unaware of what actions have been taken so far.

LocalCircles is a community social media platform that enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables the Government to make policies that are citizen and small business centric.

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