Food safety regulators from all over the world, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have initiated investigations on two Indian spice blend brands, Everest and MDH. These investigations are in response to concerns raised about the possible contamination of these spice blends with pesticides that are known to cause cancer.
Alleged Ethylene Oxide Contamination
Last April, Hong Kong, and Singapore suspended spice blend sales of esteemed Indian brands Everest and MDH due to allegedly elevated pesticide ethylene oxide levels.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ethylene oxide is typically used for spice sterilization and microbial contamination reduction. However, this is also known to be carcinogenic for humans. Evidence has linked it with an elevated risk of breast and lymphoid cancers. This alarming fact should raise serious concerns among consumers, especially those who regularly use Indian spice blends in their cooking.
In fact, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) categorizes the chemical as a Group 1 carcinogen, which shows that it could cause cancer in humans.
Several countries ban the usage of ethylene oxide in food, though the US still permits its usage in minimal concentrations.
Indian Spice Blends Under Investigation
Now, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also collecting data regarding this alleged contamination.
After the scrutiny that surfaced in other countries, regulators in Australia and New Zealand have also deployed investigations of their own. New Zealand Food Safety, the country's regulator, also says that they are aware of the recalls overseas and that they are looking into the matter, as both Everest and MDH spices are also accessible and available in New Zealand.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the country's food regulator, is also examining the quality standards of both Everest and MDH. In addition, India's industry regulator, The Spices Board, has implemented mandatory ethylene oxide testing in consignments of spices to Hong Kong and Singapore. They have also mandated the strict monitoring of export shipments. These actions demonstrate the commitment of Indian regulators to ensuring the safety of spice products and their responsiveness to global concerns.
India's regulators have inspected Everest and MDH plants and relayed the samples for testing following these global allegations.
The exact spice products that are the subjects of scrutiny are Sambhar Masala and Curry Powder, Madras Curry Powder, and Fish Curry Masala.
In the past, both Everest and MDH have insisted that their products are safe for humans to consume.
India is the largest spice producer in the world and is responsible for almost $4 billion worth of spices annually. The industry in India is also said to account for 12% of the export market all over the world. The recent allegations against Everest and MDH, two of the country's largest spice blend manufacturers, could have significant implications for the industry. Their products have been shipped to Europe, the US. Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia, and any loss of trust in these brands could impact the reputation of Indian spices globally.
However, this is not the first time that Everest has become a subject of food safety investigations. Last year, the Garam Masala and Sambar Masala spice blends of Everest were recalled due to salmonella contamination. Similarly, MDH Sambar Masala was also recalled in 2019 due to the same reasons. These recalls highlight the importance of food safety in the spice industry and the need for continuous monitoring and regulation.
Moreover, since 2021, MDH has seen roughly 14.5% of its US shipments rejected, on average, due to the presence of salmonella bacteria.
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