After Singapore and Hong Kong, Nepal has banned the consumption and sale of spices produced by Everest and MDH due to concerns over harmful chemicals found in the products. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in Nepal has initiated testing of these spices for ethylene oxide, a pesticide known to cause cancer, as reported by ANI.
“Everest and MDH brand spices have been banned from import and sale in the market. This decision comes after reports of harmful chemicals detected in the spices,” stated Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal’s food technology department.
Both Everest and MDH are well-established household names in India, with their range of spices exported to numerous countries, including the Middle East. The scrutiny over these brands has now extended to New Zealand, the United States, and Australia, according to Reuters.
“Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen, and its use for food sterilization has been discontinued in New Zealand and other countries. Given the availability of MDH and Everest spices in New Zealand, we are investigating this issue,” said Jenny Bishop, the acting deputy director general of New Zealand’s food safety regulator.
In April, Hong Kong’s food safety authority banned four spice products from the two brands, and shortly thereafter, Singapore’s Food Agency (SFA) recalled Everest’s Fish Curry Masala for exceeding permissible levels of ethylene oxide.
India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has also ordered quality checks on MDH and Everest products and has sought detailed reports from the food safety regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore.
