Nepal has joined Singapore and Hong Kong in banning the sale and consumption of spices from popular Indian brands Everest and MDH due to safety concerns. The decision comes after reports indicated the presence of harmful chemicals in these products.
The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in Nepal is currently testing these spices for ethylene oxide, a pesticide known to cause cancer. Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for the department, stated, “We have banned the import and sale of Everest and MDH spices after news of harmful chemicals surfaced. The ban will remain until we get the final test results.”
Everest and MDH are well-known brands in India, with their spices being exported worldwide, including to the Middle East. However, these brands are now under scrutiny in several countries, including New Zealand, the United States, and Australia.
Jenny Bishop, acting deputy director general of New Zealand’s food safety regulator, explained, “Ethylene oxide is known to cause cancer, and its use for food sterilization is banned in many countries. Since MDH and Everest spices are available in New Zealand, we are investigating this issue.”
Earlier, Hong Kong’s food safety authority banned four spice products from these brands, and Singapore’s Food Agency recalled Everest’s Fish Curry Masala for exceeding safe levels of ethylene oxide.
India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) is also conducting quality checks on MDH and Everest products and has requested more information from Hong Kong and Singapore’s food safety regulators.
As the investigation continues, consumers in Nepal and other affected countries are advised to avoid using these spices until further notice.
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