India’s food safety regulator is going to conduct quality checks on products of popular Indian spice brands Everest Group and MDH soon after Hong Kong banned the sales of certain products containing a cancer-causing pesticide.
The official, requesting anonymity, stated that the inspections would examine for ethylene oxide presence, a harmful pesticide unsuitable for human consumption and whose prolonged exposure may lead to cancer.
Everest and MDH are renowned names synonymous with Indian culinary culture, dominating both household kitchens and restaurant menus. These companies have not only established themselves as preferred spice brands domestically but also have significant pressure in international markets, including the US, Europe, the Middle East, and the UK.
The Hong Kong regulatory decision was officially disclosed on April 5 on the Center for Food Safety’s website. However, it gained widespread attention when Indian media outlets reported on it for the first time on Monday.
Additionally, on April 18, the Singapore Food Agency issued a recall notice for “Everest Fish Curry Masala” due to the detection of the same pesticide.
Both companies did not comment in response to requests regarding the recalls, nor did the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) conducted a sampling of three pre-packed spice products from MDH- Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder along with Everest Group’s Fish Curry Masala as a part of its routine food surveillance program.
“According to the CFS’s instructions, the distributors/importers concerned have initiated recalls on the affected products,” a spokesperson for the CFS said.
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