The most common quality problems are moisture above spec, foreign matter and stones, insect damage, mould, aflatoxin and ochratoxin, pesticide residues above the importing country's limits, Salmonella, loss of colour or flavour, adulteration, short weight and poor packing.
Almost all of them can be caught before the container is loaded, if you have a clear spec and test a sample from the actual lot.
Physical problems
These show up when you open the bags. They are usually down to cleaning, drying or storage.
- Moisture above spec: adds weight you pay for and raises the risk of mould.
- Foreign matter: stones, soil, stalks, husk and dust left in by poor cleaning.
- Admixture: seeds of other plants mixed with the product.
- Insect damage: bored seeds, live insects or webbing from poor storage.
- Colour or flavour loss: from old crop, long storage, sun exposure or poor processing.
Safety problems
These are the ones that lead to border rejections and recalls. You cannot see them, so only lab testing finds them.
- Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A: produced by moulds, often after crops are dried or stored damp.
- Pesticide residues: above the maximum residue levels set by your market, which may be stricter than India's.
- Ethylene oxide: residues from fumigation, which fail EU rules even at trace level. See why EU buyers reject ETO.
- Salmonella and high microbial counts: from open-air drying and handling, reduced by steam sterilisation.
Commercial problems
- Adulteration: added starch, colour, extraneous seeds or exhausted spice that has had its oil removed.
- Short weight: bags under the stated net weight, or fewer bags than invoiced.
- Poor packing: weak bags, missing liners, wrong marking or damage in the container.
- Wrong product or grade: a different crop year, a lower grade or a mixed lot.
How to prevent them
Prevention comes from a few habits rather than one test.
- Write a full spec with limits and test methods for each parameter.
- Buy from a processor you have checked, not an unknown trader.
- Approve a sample, then test a pre-shipment sample from the packed lot.
- Have samples drawn and sealed by someone working for you, and tested at an accredited lab.
- Check bag count, weight and packing at loading, and keep a counter-sample.
- Watch for drift over time. Problems often start on the second or third order, once trust is assumed.
Where it usually goes wrong
Many problems trace back to buying on a sample alone, from a supplier who did not process the goods. The sample was fine. The lot was not. If you are new to this, read our guide on avoiding spice adulteration, which uses the same approach.
Season and weather play a part too. Unseasonal rain at harvest can raise moisture and mould risk across a whole region, and old crop sold late in the year may have lost colour and aroma. Ask for the crop year in writing and test more carefully in a difficult season.
How we help
We audit processors, write the spec with you, have sealed pre-shipment samples tested at an NABL-accredited lab, and supervise loading to check bag count, weight and packing. Start with a free sourcing review.