Commodity Online
KOCHI: The European Union has informed that whole star anise and cinnamon of Vietnamese origin destined for Indian market is at potential risk of being contaminated with cancer causing non-approved food colour Chrysoidine.

Chrysoidine is a gentoxic carcinogen, exposure of which to a person’s diet will increase the risk of cancer, according to a Spices Board Press Release.European Union has informed that there are no analytical methods to test contamination and that it is not an approved colour in EU.

EU has said that there is no evidence of the food products entering the food chain in Europe. EU has clarified that it received the information of contamination through the normal horizon scanning activities.

Product details: Whole Star Anise (IIicium Verum), Saigon Cinnamon or Vietnamese Cassia (Cinnamomum Loureirii). EU has clarified that there are several varieties of cinnamon and contamination is limited to Saigon cinnamon.