One of the UK's biggest importers of chillies and other spices expects retailers to start pressing suppliers for reductions in the levels of contaminants, such as aflatoxins and pesticide residues, below those required by law.
Tony Deep Wouhra, chairman of West Bromwich-based East End Foods, believes retailers will in future ask suppliers to reduce aflatoxin levels in chillies to below the 10 parts per billion (ppbn) required in the UK by the Food Standards Agency.
Aflatoxins are a type of toxin naturally found in some foods and have been linked with cancer when eaten at high levels. Some spices, nuts, dried fruit and cereals, including breakfast cereals, can contain high levels of aflatoxins. Chillies are particularly susceptible to the growth of aflatoxins when kept in damp and humid environments. According to Wouhra, it is not uncommon for 20% of chilli crops in the subcontinent to suffer from fungal contamination because of poor storage conditions.
There are limits on the level of aflatoxins that can be in foods imported into the UK and the rest of the European Union. Germany, imposes particularly low limits in chillies of 2ppbn, whereas the US is far less strict at 20ppbn, said Wouhra. EC Regulation 472/2002 sets limits of 5ppbn for aflatoxin B1 and 10ppbn for total aflatoxins in certain spices, including dried, whole or ground chillies and chilli powder, cayenne pepper and paprika, white and black pepper, nutmeg, ginger and tumeric.
Wouhra has been involved with a project for the last six years working directly with chilli producers in the Indian subcontinent to reduce contamination. By persuading farmers to reduce pesticide use and dry chillies off the ground and under cover, he claimed to have reduced contamination to below detectable levels.
"Only a few people have the passion to do something about it," claimed Wouhra. "I would like to see that high standard maintained, but not all products are going to achieve it. It doesn't cost too much - it costs a little - but I have cut out five middle men."
In contrast, he claimed, chillies are often purchased through intermediaries, who commonly mix in cheaper products to cut costs. This is believed to have been one reason behind last year's discovery of chilli powder contaminated with the illegal colourings Sudan 1 and Para Red. By carefully controlling its sourcing, East End Foods managed to avoid being affected by the widespread product recalls that occurred with other suppliers. "I can't see any excuse for Sudan 1," said Wouhra.