MDH and Everest global safety concerns
In April 2024, Singapore and Hong Kong halted sales of some spices produced by Indian companies MDH and Everest over suspected elevated levels of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing pesticide.
Background[edit]
India exports more than 200 spices and value-added products to 180 countries. The domestic market is worth $10bn, making it the world's largest consumer of spices.[1]
In 2014, Ipsita Mazumdar, a biochemistry expert, tested popular spice brands in Kolkata and found lead in food coloring.[1] In 2023, food and drugs control authorities in Gujarat seized more than 60,000 kg of adulterated spices[2]
Concerns[edit]
In April 2024, the Singapore Food Agency and Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety banned two companies' curry powders which were found to contain ethylene oxide. Following this, Maldives was the third country to ban their products.[3][4]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was also investigating them.[3] An analysis done by the Reuters of the US regulatory data found that since 2021, an average of 14.5% of US shipments of MDH spices were rejected due to presence of bacteria. The European Union (EU) has raised concerns of its own.[5] Bangladesh and Australian food regulators have also launched investigations.[1]
Response[edit]
Both brands insist that their products are safe. The Indian federal government has instructed all state governments to conduct quality tests. The Spices Board has issued guidelines to exporters to check for the use of ethylene oxide. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is testing samples.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "MDH and Everest: Indian spices face heat over global safety concerns". 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "61,690 kg of adulterated spices seized from Nadiad in Gujarat". The Indian Express. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ a b "MDH and Everest: US health officials probe Indian spice mix pesticide claims". 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Maldives bans Indian spice brands Everest and MDH over claims of cancer-causing pesticide". Business Today. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); Carrasco Cabrera, Luis; Di Piazza, Giulio; Dujardin, Bruno; Marchese, Emanuela; Medina Pastor, Paula (April 2024). "The 2022 European Union report on pesticide residues in food". EFSA Journal. 22 (4): e8753. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8753. PMC 11036314. PMID 38655191.