Don’t worry, Canadians. Our spices aren’t nearly as contaminated. (Thinkstock)Following the recent announcement that extreme filth has been found by American food inspectors in 12 per cent of imported spices and herbs, the Canadian government has assured the public that spices imported into Canada are much cleaner.
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a report that showed everything from insect parts, bird feathers, bat hair, mouse excrement and rubber bands have been found in imported spices, reports theWashington Post.
The FDA study identified 14 outbreaks worldwide — including Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the U.S. — that involved spices and resulted in 2,000 people reporting illnesses from 1973 to 2010.
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Many of the popular spices and herbs — including basil, mint, pepper, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, thyme, cinnamon, cayenne, cumin, allspice — came from India, Vietnam, China and Mexico.
The bacteria found inside the imported spices include salmonella, shigella (a bacteria that mainly causes vomiting and diarrhea in small children), and the potentially deadly Staphylococcus aureus.
In response to this finding, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency say they have not found the same degree of filth as the American authorities.
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“The CFIA has been sampling and testing spices for various allergens, chemical residues and microbiology concerns. To date, the results have indicated a high degree of compliance,” Elena Koutsavakis, a spokesperson for the agency, tells the Toronto Star.
For example, Canadian spice samples show a 0.01 per cent rate of contamination for salmonella, whereas U.S. samples show a 7 per cent rate of contamination for the same pathogen.
Out of 1,434 samples of dried spices that were tested in Canada during a four year period (2009-10 and 2012-13) only two samples tested positive for salmonella.
Whereas in the U.S., out of 2,8444 samples of dried spices tested during a two year period (2007-09) almost 200 were contaminated with salmonella.
Watch the video below for more on contaminated spices imported to the U.S.