The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Australia’s food safety agency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, announced it is gathering information on potential contamination in spice mixes sold by Indian companies MDH and Everest. This investigation could lead to a food recall depending on the findings, which involve concerns over the presence of ethylene oxide, a chemical banned in food products in Australia due to its carcinogenic risks with long-term exposure.
The scrutiny follows actions by Hong Kong and Singapore, with Hong Kong suspending sales of three MDH spice blends and an Everest fish curry mix earlier this month, and Singapore recalling the Everest mix over high levels of ethylene oxide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also initiated an inquiry into these products.
These concerns are not new to MDH and Everest; both companies have faced international recalls before, including a 2019 recall of MDH spices in the U.S. due to salmonella contamination and a similar action against Everest mixes in 2023.
MDH and Everest, two of the largest spice exporters in India, distribute their products globally, reaching markets in Europe, Asia, and North America. India, the world’s largest exporter, consumer, and producer of spices, saw its spice market reach an estimated value of $10.44 billion in 2022, with exports totaling $4 billion during the 2022-23 period.
The Indian government has requested data from Hong Kong and Singapore regarding the recent regulatory actions, and Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety has informed the Indian embassy about the test results for necessary follow-up actions.
This developing situation underscores the importance of stringent food safety standards and international cooperation in ensuring the quality and safety of globally traded food products.
