The Aryavarth Express
Agency(BENGALURU): India’s spice export regulator, the Spices Board of India, has called on major spice manufacturers MDH and Everest to detail their quality control processes following allegations from Hong Kong about high levels of a carcinogenic pesticide in their products. This month, Hong Kong halted the sale of three MDH spice blends and an Everest mix specifically intended for fish curries, prompting similar actions in Singapore.
The Indian food authorities responded by demanding comprehensive quality checks from these companies, questioning the integrity of the exported products. According to a senior official from the Spices Board, the manufacturers are required to demonstrate compliance with both Indian regulations and the standards of importing countries.
Rajinder Kumar, an executive vice president at MDH, declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Everest has asserted that its products are safe, stating that they are exported only after passing tests approved by the Spice Board of India. Despite this, the brands face scrutiny as they navigate potential damage to their significant market presence both domestically and internationally, where they serve major markets in Europe, Asia, and North America.
MDH and Everest are pivotal in India’s spice market, which was valued at $10.44 billion in 2022, with $4 billion in exports reported by the Spices Board for the 2022-23 period. The controversy arises amid heightened global attentiveness to food safety standards, particularly concerning carcinogenic substances such as ethylene oxide—cited by authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore as the problematic chemical in the questioned products.
This development not only poses a challenge to the reputation of these celebrated brands but also to India’s standing as a leading spice exporter, prompting a reassessment of regulatory practices and enforcement to safeguard public health and maintain confidence in its food exports.
