Australia to ban MDH, Everest spices? Food regulator says examining products

The food regulator of Australia is the latest to launch an examination of the spice-mixes sold by MDH and Everest Food – two of the leading Indian spice brands – after action was taken against some of their products by the authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore.

"We are working with international counterparts to understand the issue and with federal, state and territory food enforcement agencies to determine if further action is required in Australia," news agency Reuters quoted Food Standards Australia New Zealand as saying.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s Center for Food Safety (CFS) halted sales of three MDH products – MDH's Madras Curry Powder, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder, whereas the Singapore Food Agency directed a recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala.

On Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) said it was gathering additional information related to the Indian spice-mixes.

Why the Singapore, HK took action against MDH, Everest spices

The action against the spice-mixes has been taken due to the presence of “a pesticide, ethylene oxide", Hong Kong’s CFS said.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a body linked to the World Health Organization (WHO), ethylene oxide is a “Group 1 carcinogen”. This classification, according to the agency, indicates that it can “cause cancer in humans”.

The Singapore Food Agency, while ordering the recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala, reportedly said that it has ethylene oxide at levels “exceeding the permissible limit”.

However, Everest and MDH have denied the allegations of flouting the safety norms. Both the companies have claimed that their products are safe.

What Indian food regulator said

After the controversy came to light, the Spices Board of India, a Kochi-based regulatory body, said "We are looking into the matter”. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the apex food regulator, began taking samples of spices in powder form of all brands, including MDH and Everest, from across the country in view of the quality concerns flagged, a government source told news agency PTI on April 22.

"In view of the current development, FSSAI is taking samples of spices of all brands, including MDH and Everest, from the market to check whether they meet the FSSAI norms," the source was quoted as saying. The person privy to the matter, however, clarified that the FSSAI does not regulate the quality of exported spices.

Notably, MDH and Everest have a wide overseas market, with their products being sold in Europe, Asia and North America. The two companies had a cumulative value of $10.44 billion in 2022, as per the estimates shared by Zion Market Research.