The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken action to investigate the quality of products from well-known Indian spice brands MDH and Everest Group following allegations of contamination with a cancer-causing pesticide. These allegations surfaced after Hong Kong banned the sale of MDH and Everest products due to the detection of ethylene oxide, a harmful pesticide, in several spice mixes. The presence of this pesticide was identified during routine food surveillance testing conducted by the Centre For Food Safety of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ethylene oxide is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, indicating its potential to cause cancer. In response to these findings, the FSSAI has ordered quality checks on products from these brands to ensure consumer safety. Additionally, Singapore has directed the importer of these spices to initiate a recall of the implicated products.
The banned MDH products include ‘Madras Curry Powder’, ‘Sambhar Masala Powder’, and ‘Curry Powder’, while Everest Group’s ‘Fish Curry Masala’ was also found to contain the pesticide. Hong Kong authorities have instructed vendors to cease selling these products and remove them from shelves. They have also warned that selling food containing pesticide residue can result in fines and imprisonment under their regulations.
Both MDH and Everest are longstanding and reputable companies in the spice industry, with a history of exporting their products to various countries, including the US, Europe, UK, and the Middle East. However, the recent detection of ethylene oxide in their products has raised concerns about consumer safety worldwide.
Consumers who have purchased these products are advised to seek medical advice if they have consumed them and have health concerns. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has urged consumers to contact their point of purchase for inquiries regarding the implicated products. This incident underscores the importance of stringent quality control measures in the food industry to ensure the safety of consumers.
