Today, On 18th August, The Supreme Court rejected a petition concerning toxic cassia being sold as cinnamon in Kerala, remarking, “We are not going to monitor all this,” while dismissing the request for court intervention in the spice contamination issue.
The Supreme Court declined to review a petition concerning the contamination of cinnamon and the sale of toxic cassia in Kerala.
A bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was addressing a challenge to an August 2024 ruling from the Kerala High Court.
The petitioner’s counsel argued,
“This matter relates to contamination of spice. Cassia which is poisonous and is known to cause cancer is being sold in the guise of cinnamon.”
However, the bench noted that the high court had already provided necessary directives to the relevant authorities.
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The bench stated,
“We are not going to monitor all this,”
Despite this, the petitioner’s counsel emphasized the incompetence of the responsible authorities in addressing the problem. The bench reiterated that the high court had already issued essential instructions and subsequently dismissed the plea.
The petitioner had approached the high court seeking restrictions on the sale and a ban on the importation of the hazardous cassia, which he claimed posed a risk to human health due to its toxic components, including cyanide and coumarin.
In the high court proceedings, the counsel for the food safety commissioner indicated that the authority had already directed the commissioner of Food Safety in states and Union Territories, as well as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to undertake market surveillance to address these alleged malpractices.
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The high court also noted that the authority should conduct awareness initiatives aimed at both food business operators and consumers, encouraging them to exercise greater caution when selling or purchasing such products.
In its ruling on the two petitions, the high court mandated that the state authority diligently follow the guidelines set by the FSSAI to carry out market surveillance and to inform food business operators and consumers to be more vigilant.