Kathmandu : – Nepal has imposed a ban on the import, consumption, and sale of powdered spice products from Indian companies Everest and MDH. The move follows reports of ethylene oxide contamination, a chemical classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, confirmed the ban, stating it was enacted a week prior after preliminary findings indicated the presence of harmful chemicals. “We have also banned the sale of it in the market,” Maharjan said. The ban will remain until final test results are available.
This action aligns with similar measures taken by Hong Kong and Singapore, which have also banned or recalled specific MDH and Everest products due to contamination concerns. Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department recalled four products: MDH Madras Curry Powder, MDH Sambhar Masala, MDH Curry Powder, and Everest Fish Curry Masala. Singapore’s Food Agency followed suit, recalling Everest’s fish curry spice mix.
The issue has prompted broader international scrutiny. New Zealand’s food safety regulator is currently investigating potential contamination in MDH and Everest products, while the United States and Australia have launched similar probes.
In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently increased the maximum permissible pesticide residue in spices and herbs from 0.01 milligrams per kilogram to 0.1 milligrams per kilogram. This adjustment has faced criticism and raised concerns about the safety of Indian spices. The Indian government, however, has defended the new standards, calling media reports “false and malicious” and asserting that India’s safety standards are among the strictest globally.
As international scrutiny intensifies, the ongoing investigations will determine the future of Everest and MDH spices in the global market.
