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Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on?

started by Truthbetold3 4 mnths ago
I was at India grocery stores yesterday and found out that FDA has banned Basmati Rice(from India), Atta(you can only egt it from Canada),  Cumin seeds, and several varieties of prepackaged foods(MTR and Priya prepared curries etc.

The grocer(obviously Patel Bhai) told me that over the last several weeks FDA banned these items when I asked him why certain shelfs are empty. He said he was not aware of any contamination issues and it may have to something with politics.

I am not sure if my information is accurate. But what is certain is that Basmati rice, Atta, cumin seeds and MTR sambar are caught in some importing web of problems.

Does any one have any better information on this subject?

Note to RS-K:  This is one of those subjects that you can talk to your wife because for once it is not my fault something is not available.  We can also discuss the political angles till cows come home.

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  BittuZing posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
This is hogwash. A rumor. There's no way FDA has banned basmati rice or cumin seeds.

  deep purple posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds on 4 mnths ago
TBT:

1. I do not think FDA bans food items in general. Its always for a specific manufacturer. 

http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/1/ora_oasis_c_in.html

2. For example, Cumin seeds were banned for this manufactuer o account of "Salmonella"

Jabs International Pvt Ltd
    NAVI MUMBAI IN-MH, IN 400708                   BLT-DO  101-7627349-7/1/1
    28AAT16   CUMIN SEED FROM INDIA
                        17-JAN-2008                        SALMONELLA

Reason: SALMONELLA
     Section: 402(a)(1), 801(a)(3); ADULTERATION
     Charge: The article appears to contain Salmonella, a
     poisonous and deleterious substance which may render it
     injurious to health.

3. Basmati rice from India is available in abundance in Costco. Atta has not been banned by FDA, but India herself. Hence recent 200% price increase, for Atta from Canada with weakening dollar.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds on 4 mnths ago
DP,

I have listed my source and have expressed my concerns on the accuracy.  I am looking for better information. Thanks for your the above input.


  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
I suspect the ban is not at the US end. I do know that many countries have started imposing ban on exporting foodgrains because of shortages. Perhaps India has banned the export of rice and atta?
  RS-K posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
may explain rice,atta, or even cumin seeds. Why prepackaged foods, like MTR sambhar, etc? What is the politics/economics behind that?
  gowser posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
iwth the prepackaged foods there is probably some preservative that is no longer allowed by the FDA.
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Yeah, prepackaged foods there must be some regulatory problem... or some temporary problem in the supply chain. I am surprised about cumin seeds as well. The only shortages I saw in the Bay Area are atta (which I posted about a while ago) and rice now. Another shortage is curry leaves which they are literally rationing ("one pack per customer only, and that too only on request at the check-out counter").



  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Carvaka,

Limitations from Indian side could be a strong possibility.  But quatities India ship to US must be miniscule compared to Indian consumption. Would these quantities make any difference?
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
To answer your specific question: yes, the small quantities exported do not have a big impact on prices in India. Here is a news story that says less than 3% of pulses produced are exported; yet there is an export ban. Of course, the effect on prices of reducing 3% of the supply depends on demand-elasticity. Even a 3% increase in prices (assuming fairly inelastic demand as is usually the case with staple foodgrains) has an impact on Indian consumers.

  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
I think export bans are more good politics than good economics. In the long run, such bans lead to problems like smuggling and a black market which were all too common in India in the '80s. Such bans also lead to market-distorting behaviors by the players even in the short run. It looks like basmati is not banned from export (look at the news story G-putra copy-pasted) yet the exporters are likely hoarding expecting further price increases.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
"I think export bans are more good politics than good economics."

My hunch is that is the case.  SO we may have to wait till Parliament elections then. Unless Patel Bhai find alternate solutions.  Or Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Malaysia picks up the slack.
  gowser posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
or bangladesh
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
I suspect all of them are in similar trouble. Bangladesh is a net importer of rice from India, that much I know.






  Job less fella posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
dude...this may not be due to  the adultration issue at all.this must be related to the agents used in polishing that basmati rice.

certain preservatives are banned in the USA and certain are allowed only if the seller advises the consumer.

  RS-K posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago

oh boy. Is that really true? How will I live w/o cumin seeds. I put them in pretty much e'thing I cook. (Ya it is a Northindian thing)

What if someone brings them from India for personal use? Can they get caught and thrown away at the airport? Someone's coming next month. Maybe I can ask them to bring. But can they get in trouble?

What importing problems?
  Uppili posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
You can and you should, and also tell your friends. They might buy you a RT ticket just to bring 4 suitcases full of Cumin seeds.

BTW, lot of countries have banned rice as rice production and storage has gone down by 30%. This is despite normal rains and monsoons. One reason is rice is grown along major rivers as it needs PLENTY of water. That is also the area of fast development... The farmers find it more profitable to sell their land to developers than make money through farming...

  mottibilli posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago

Cumin seeds are on the ban list - to get in personal baggage. There are special dogs who are trained to sniff this out. Once the dog stops near your trolley - then you have to open everything. And that is a pain - all they will do is remove the cumin seeds packet...saying that you cannot bring it in.

In some airports, this is so common - that you are asked this question - Do you have Jeera?  
  RS-K posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
I think I have heard of people bringing in Jeera before. The first time I came to US, I think I brought a little everything (not remembering it well). 

Damn. Now that I know that it is in the ban list, I will not be able to ask them to bring it.



  MaxEntropy_Man posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
it's not just northindian. cheeragam is used a lot in tamil cooking as well. but cumin seeds are also available in regular grocery stores. it's just that you get a lot more for your money at the indian grocery store.
  gowser posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
they're also available in middle eastern stores
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
There's a co-op supermarket called Rainbow in San Francisco that has the widest variety of spices I have ever seen gathered under a single roof. Most Indian spices are there as well! Berkeley also has a similar store called Berkeley Bowl.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
I found most Indian grocery requirements in a near by supermarket. They carry basmati rice, prepackaed foods , pickles, soji etc. They now have isle listed as Asian or Indian foods.

MC Cormick , spice gaint bought MTR and have expanded spice offerings in all major super market across US.




  MaxEntropy_Man posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
thanks for the tip!



  muchocricket posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
>> Ya it is a Northindian thing


wrong, it's an indian thing  :)
  gyanputra posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7323713.stm
India introduces rice export ban 
A woman selling rice in Calcutta
Traders say rice prices rose by 10% last year


The Indian government has banned the export of non-basmati rice to try and control soaring domestic food costs.



The decision, one of a series of measures to curb inflation, was taken during an emergency cabinet meeting.

The price for exports of aromatic basmati rice has also been

  RS-K posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
oh ok. Don't know. 

My mom used to tell me that people make fun of us because we put heeng-jeera as default seasoning in all the sabzis that we make. Rai in only some.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
One of my cousin always says Indians especially the telugus  use all kinds of vegetables and meat as mere carriers of spice mix of cumin seeds, and ginger etc.
  MaxEntropy_Man posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
i find telugu food to be excessively spicy. with exceptions like pickles (avakkai and gongura), my favorite SI foods are those of TN, kerala, and karnataka which are more flavorful than just spicy.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Max,

I find curries from TN to be bland for the same reason. 

Telugu tongue is used to those spices from childhood and anything less tastes bland to us. If I do not get my spicy food after 3 or 4 days of non telugu food, I will make an extra effort to find that food.  It is built into the gene code now.

Vepudu,  Chilli hot, and spicy is the hall mark of  Telugu food. 
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Exactly. It's all about what you grow up eating. BTW, the spice level is why I ended up loving Korean food.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Thai food also is chili hot and spicy.   Korean and Thai are my favorites haunts during travel.
  Uppili posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
The problem with the Thai/oriental Chilli is they are not cooked well.... added towards the end... Which makes it too hard on the gut.




  muchocricket posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
common max, don't you like gutti vankaya  koora ;-)
  MaxEntropy_Man posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
my roommate in grad school used to make something called vankaya karam petti koora specially despicyfied for my tastes which i used to love. after a meal of that and potato chips and a cold bowl of plain yogurt. manna! i think i'll find most telugu dishes to my liking if the spiciness is reduced by one-half of what you guys normally throw in.
  PseudoIntellectual posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
People from East Godavari Districts eat a lot less spicy. We dont eat spicy food at all.
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Yeah... my wife's best friend in college was from tugoji. So she had the notion that Telugu food is not all that spicy. Now she thinks I am some spice-freak...


  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
Max,

There are variations with Telugu communities.  Not all parts of the state and all communities eat the same way.

We make mild variety of curry(ies)  when we invite our non telugu friends which is quite often.  My wife makes them in large quantities so that she can pack them for the guests after the party.  They all love them.  You have to respect other people's tastes and make allowances for that.

When we meet our relatives we go crazy with spices because we all have similar tastes.  Doctors in the family complain but women say go fly a kite.
  carvaka posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
> Doctors in the family complain but women say go fly a kite.

LOL... my mom sent us a bunch of pickles, including last year's avakaya. My wife is wary of it, but I can't stop at just a little of that! 
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
MY wife tried Avakaya with the varieties available here but none of them have the fiber and consistency of AP variety. 

The one I crave for is freshly made (home grown) gongura pickle.  

All these have a definite addictive quality.
  MaxEntropy_Man posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago

i like andhra pickles but my favorite is the very simple baby mangoes in brine called vadu manga, a tamil iyer delicacy. if done right, it's out of this world.
  MaxEntropy_Man posted Re:Basmati rice, Atta, Cumin Seeds, prepared food and several ethnic foods banned. What is going on? on 4 mnths ago
i think much of this has to do with childhood comfort foods. i love the simple yogurt rice with vadu manga and vetha kozhambu, something my cousins and i used to get fed after playing cricket on hot summer afternoons. we'd form a semicircle, sitting in front of my grandmother who'd ladle little balls of yogurt rice into our  hands. we'd each have a little plate in front of us with the baby mango pickle. we'd form little dimples on the surface of the yogurt rice balls with the top of our thumbs into which she'd ladle little pools of vetha kozhambu. ever now and then we'd bite into the baby mango. we'd gobble it up and sleep like babies, wake up to piping hot filter coffee, thattai, cheedai etc. and off we'd go for another game of cricket. life's simple pleasures.