The Indian spice brands MDH and Everest have faced another setback. In April, the Hong Kong food safety watchdog banned four spice products from these brands after discovering they contained ethylene oxide, a chemical known to cause cancer.
In response to findings of elevated ethylene oxide levels in their products, Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has followed suit with Hong Kong, imposing a ban on the import, consumption, and sale of Everest and MDH spice brands.
Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson of Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, confirmed to ANI that Everest and MDH brand spices imported into Nepal have been banned from sale and import, reported ANI. “Testing is currently underway to determine the extent of ethylene oxide contamination in the spices of these two brands. The ban will remain in place until the final test results are available.”
Hong Kong and Singapore’s actions have influenced Nepal’s decision, with Indian government sources telling ANI that various countries permit different concentrations of ethylene oxide, ranging from 0.73% to 7%. They emphasized the necessity of establishing international standards for ethylene oxide usage.
Less than one percent of India’s total spice exports are represented by the banned spices. In reaction to these events, the Spice Board of India has enacted multiple measures to guarantee the safety and quality of Indian spice exports to these areas.
These measures encompass root cause analyses, facility inspections, and sample testing in accredited laboratories. Furthermore, the board has distributed guidelines for ethylene oxide treatment to all exporters. Additionally, a stakeholder consultation convened by the Spice Board of India involved over 130 exporters and associations, including the All India Spices Exporters Forum and the Indian Spice and Foodstuff Exporters’ Association.
