Hong Kong has banned the sale of popular Indian spice brands MDH Pvt. and Everest Food Products Pvt. after the alleged detection of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in several spice mixes. Singapore last week took similar action against Everest, alleging the presence of ethylene oxide at levels surpassing permissible limits.
The Centre For Food Safety of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on April 5 that routine surveillance programs had uncovered the presence of ethylene oxide in three spice mixes from MDH Group - Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder.
"The CFS collected the above-mentioned samples from three retail outlets in Tsim Sha Tsui respectively for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected products," it said in a statement.
Additionally, Everest Group's Fish Curry Masala was found to contain the pesticide. Ethylene oxide, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, poses serious health risks, including an elevated risk of breast cancer.
In response to the findings, both Hong Kong and Singapore have taken action to protect public health. Singapore, in a parallel move, has also recalled Everest's products from its shelves, citing the presence of pesticides above safe levels.
This is not the first time that an Indian spice brand has faced action abroad. In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a recall of Everest Food Products after they tested positive for Salmonella.
MDH Faced US Rejections Before Being Suspended In Hong Kong: Report Garam Masala To Ginger-Garlic Paste: 5 Every Day Spice Mixes You Can Make At Home Gathering Data From Hong Kong, Singapore: Spices Board On MDH, Everest Ban Russia's Firing Of ICBM On Ukraine Is Weapon's 1st Combat Use In History Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest This Asian City Is Emerging As Sex Tourism Hub. It's Not Where You Think North Korea's Kim Accuses US Of Escalating Tensions, Warns Of Nuclear War NDMC Launches 'Night Cleaning Drive' Amid Delhi's 'Very Poor' Air Quality Israel Strikes Kill 52 In Lebanon As Hezbollah Targets South Israel Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.