7 Oct, 2008 – Food safety officials in the Czech Republic have detained a shipment of Indian guar gum after tests revealed it contained illegal levels of pentachlorophenol (PCP).
The 10-ton batch of guar gum was one of two impounded at the country’s border on 29 September, the Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection (CAFIA) announced.
The importing company submitted analyses from a laboratory in India on both batches of E412. However, further tests carried out by CAFIA revealed higher than permitted levels of PCP were present in one of them. The second shipment, which complied with requirements, was allowed to enter the country.
Mr. Jakub Sebesta, CAFIA Director General, said: “As the defective batch did not reach the market at all, there is no health risk to consumers. This also proves that the Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection consistently comply with the measures introduced by the European Commission and that they are effective.”
In July, 2007, guar gum imported by Swiss company Unipektin AG, was found to be contaminated with high levels of dioxins. The company, which supplies guar gum products to EU markets, recalled batches of food additives containing guar gum sent by India Glycols.
A small handful of the EU's 27 member states were unaffected by the contamination, while many others -- at least 16 countries -- reported recalls of either guar gum or food products.
After the high dioxin levels were detected, national authorities across the EU were warned by Brussels to impound guar gum exports from India Glycols and test consignments for pentachlorophenol and dioxin.
Commission experts said the dioxin contamination was most likely linked to the presence of pentachlorophenol, a chemical used as a pesticide
India accounts for 80 percent of world trade in guar gum, extracted from the guar bean. As well as being used in animal feed, the gum is incorporated into dairy products such as yogurts, soft cheese and ice cream - and also bread, pasta, ham, sausages, prepared fish and pastries.
In May, 2008, the European Commission confirmed that, any guar gum originating from India for import into the EU for human or animal consumption must be accompanied by an original analytical report from an accredited laboratory, or one seeking accreditation and which have the necessary quality control procedures in place, states the EC measure.
In order to be allowed into the EU, the report must show any shipment does not contain “more than 0.01 mg/kg pentachlorophenol (PCP)”, the EC has declared. The results of test must also be endorsed by a “representative of the competent authority from the country where the laboratory is located”.