Singapore also took similar action with these brands…
On Monday, 22 April 2024, Hong Kong banned the sale of Indian spice brands MDH Pvt. and Everest Food Products Pvt.
The alleged detection of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in several spice mixes.
Singapore last week took similar action against Everest, alleging the presence of ethylene oxide at levels surpassing permissible limits.
On April 5, The Centre For Food Safety of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced that routine surveillance programs had uncovered the presence of ethylene oxide in three spice mixes from MDH Group - Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder.
"The CFS collected the samples of these products from three retail outlets in Tsim Sha Tsui respectively for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme.
The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop the sale and remove the affected products from the shelves," it said in an official statement.
Additionally, Everest Group's Fish Curry Masala was found to contain the pesticide. Ethylene oxide, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, poses serious health risks, including an elevated risk of breast cancer if used on longer terms.
Edited By: Arusha Farooq
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