Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has imposed a ban on four spice products from Indian brands MDH and Everest due to contamination with ethylene oxide, a pesticide recognized as a carcinogen.
Recently, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) recalled India’s ‘Everest fish curry masala’ due to ethylene oxide contamination.
Products and associated health risks
On April 5, as part of its routine food surveillance program, CFS detected ethylene oxide in MDH’s Madras Curry Powder, Mixed Masala Powder, Sambhar Masala, and Everest’s Fish Curry Masala.
Ethylene oxide, the pesticide found in these spices, is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating a proven risk of cancers like lymphoma and breast cancer.
Regulatory response and actions
Subsequent to this discovery, Hong Kong authorities instructed retailers to remove the contaminated spices from shelves, emphasizing the significant health hazards they pose.
In Singapore, SFA directed Sp Muthiah & Sons Pte. Ltd., the importer, to carry out a comprehensive recall of the affected Everest product. Both regions stressed the illegal status of ethylene oxide in food items and warned of substantial penalties for non-compliance.
The presence of ethylene oxide violates Hong Kong’s food safety regulations, which prohibit food with pesticide residues exceeding specified safe limits.
Hong Kong and Singapore authorities urge consumers to refrain from using the affected products. Although SFA clarified that low levels of ethylene oxide do not pose an immediate risk, prolonged consumption could lead to health concerns due to the chemical’s carcinogenic nature.
Past incidents and consumer apprehensions
This isn’t the first time MDH and Everest products have faced international scrutiny. Last year, the U.S. FDA requested the recall of numerous MDH masalas due to Salmonella contamination.
These repeated incidents raise significant apprehensions about the safety protocols and regulatory adherence concerning Indian spice exports.
FSSAI’s stance
According to media reports, the food safety regulator, FSSAI, has initiated quality checks on major branded spices, including popular names like MDH and Everest.
FSSAI has mobilized state food commissioners and issued directives to gather samples from the manufacturing units of major spice brands nationwide. These samples will undergo testing at accredited laboratories to detect ethylene oxide pesticide residues.
Moreover, the report notes that while FSSAI routinely conducts quality checks on products available in the domestic market, it does not regulate the quality of spices intended for export.
