The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated quality checks on products from well-known Indian spice brands MDH and Everest Group amid allegations of them containing a cancer-causing pesticide, as reported by Reuters citing a senior official.
The inspections aim to detect the presence of ethylene oxide, a harmful pesticide known to cause cancer with long-term exposure.
This action follows the recent ban by Hong Kong on the sale of these brands within its borders due to the detection of ethylene oxide in several spice mixes.
The Centre For Food Safety of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region collected samples of MDH’s ‘Madras Curry Powder’, ‘Sambhar Masala Powder’, and ‘Curry Powder’, as well as Everest Group’s ‘Fish Curry Masala’, finding traces of the pesticide.
Consequently, vendors in Tsim Sha Tsui City were instructed to halt sales and remove these products from shelves.
Hong Kong authorities highlighted the danger of ethylene oxide, classifying it as a Group 1 carcinogen, and warned of penalties for selling food containing pesticide residues. Singapore has also taken action, directing importers to recall the implicated products and advising concerned consumers to seek medical advice.
