AFTER SINGAPORE, FOUR INDIAN SPICE MIXES BANNED IN HONG KONG

The packets of the spice brands that have come under the radar.

Tue 23 April 2024:

New Delhi: Indian spices are under the glare of international food regulators. Specifically, MDH Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder.

Hong Kong’s food regulatory authority had found these four products of popular Indian brands MDH and Everest with carcinogenic ingredients, in routine food surveillance.

After this, Singapore has recalled Everest fish curry masala imported from India, citing the presence of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing agent which raises the risk of breast cancer and lymphoma. “The Centre for Food Safety, Hong Kong’s food and environmental regulatory body, said it collected samples of four products under its routine food surveillance programme and found the presence of pesticide ethylene oxide, which is unsuitable for human consumption.”

NDTV reports that the presence of ethylene oxide was found in three spice mixes from MDH Group – Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder.

The Centre of Food Safety (CSF) had said in a statement issued on April 5, 2024, “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,”

In addition to this, Everest Group’s Fish Curry Masala was found to contain the pesticide. Ethylene oxide, is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said to carry serious health risks, including an elevated risk of breast cancer.

Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had ordered a recall of two Everest masalas and Maggi Masala ae Magic, over fears of Salmonella. The FDA then said, “the FDA analyzed samples of the three products, Everest Garam Masala, Everest Sambhar Masala, and Maggi Masala ae Magic, and the results showed the products were contaminated with Salmonella. The products were manufactured in India and are not labeled for distribution in the United States.”

-The Wire

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