Spice giants MDH, Everest under FSSAI quality check scanner amid export recall concerns

Checks on MDH and Everest are reportedly aimed at assessing whether products being sold by the two companies match the standards set by FSSAI or not.

Following a ban by Hong Kong authorities on the sale of certain products from popular Indian spice brands MDH and Everest Group, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced plans to conduct comprehensive quality checks. The ban, implemented due to alleged contamination with a cancer-causing pesticide, ethylene oxide, has prompted heightened scrutiny of these household names in Indian kitchens.

The inspections aim to evaluate whether the products sold by these companies adhere to the standards established by FSSAI, sources revealed to CNBC-TV18. Speaking anonymously, a senior Indian official told Reuters that the inspections will specifically target the presence of ethylene oxide, a pesticide deemed unfit for human consumption and associated with long-term cancer risks.

MDH and Everest Group, known for their dominance in Indian cuisine both domestically and internationally, including markets in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and the UK, have come under public scrutiny following the Hong Kong regulatory decision.

Hong Kong's Centre made the ban announcement for Food Safety (CFS) on April 5; on April 18, the Singapore Food Agency issued a recall of Everest Group's 'Fish Curry Masala' for similar pesticide concerns.

In response to authorities in Singapore detaining one of its products for inspection following a ban in Hong Kong, Indian spice maker Everest Food Products affirmed the safety of its offerings on Tuesday.

Rajiv Shah, a director at the company, reassured Reuters in a statement that out of 60 Everest products, only one had been held for examination. Shah emphasized the safety of their products, asserting that there was no cause for concern.

"Exports are cleared only after receiving necessary clearances and approval from the laboratories of the Spice Board of India," Shah stated, highlighting the stringent approval process.

The CFS initiated testing of samples from MDH's 'Madras Curry Powder', 'Sambhar Masala Powder', 'Curry Powder', and Everest Group's 'Fish Curry Masala', detecting the presence of the pesticide during routine food surveillance. Consequently, vendors in Tsim Sha Tsui were instructed to halt sales and remove the affected products from their shelves.

A spokesperson for the CFS confirmed that distributors and importers have commenced recalls by the regulatory instructions.

This recent controversy follows a prior incident in June 2023 when the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) recalled two of Everest's spice mixes after detecting Salmonella contamination.