On Thursday, India’s food safety regulator announced that it had ordered testing and inspections at all spice mix manufacturers, broadening an investigation into the sector as global regulators investigate suspected contamination in two popular local brands.
Last month, Hong Kong halted sales of three spice blends made by India’s MDH and an Everest spice mix for fish curry. Singapore also ordered a recall of the same Everest mix, citing high levels of ethylene oxide, which is unfit for human consumption and poses a cancer risk with prolonged exposure.
MDH and Everest products are trendy in India and are also available in Europe, Asia, and North America, and the companies have stated that they are safe. Nonetheless, US and Australian food authorities said they are gathering more information on the subject, and India has already ordered testing of the two brands’ products.
The Indian regulator has now directed officials to conduct “extensive inspections, sampling, and testing at all manufacturing units” for powdered spices, with a particular emphasis on those producing curry powders and mixed spice blends for local and international sales.
