Authenticity and food safety issues in basmati rice export

Abstract

Basmati is long grain aromatic rice which is highly favoured and fetches higher prices in domestic as well as in the world market. Though India exports both Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties, Basmati has become a major export item among agricultural products due to increase in its global popularity and hence demand, especially in the Gulf and European countries. The significant price differences between Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties have come out with practices to adulterate Basmati with non-Basmati varieties. Export of Basmati rice has also faced problems in the last few years in different markets such as the U.S., E.U. and Iran owing to detection of heavy metals, aflatoxins and pesticide residues.