NEW DELHI: Hong Kong‘s Center for Food Safety(CFS) has taken action against renowned Indian brands MDH and Everest of alleged detection of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in several spice mixes. This comes after a similar notification by Singapore on April 18.
Ethylene oxide is a cancer-causing agent, making it unsuitable for human consumption. The CFS announced its findings on April 5, revealing that the levels of ethylene oxide found in these spice products exceeded the permissible limits set by Hong Kong regulations.The sale of food containing pesticide residues beyond safe limits is strictly prohibited in Hong Kong under the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM).
Centre For Food Safety of Hong Kong special administrative region announced on April 5 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 above-mentioned samples 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 sale and remove from shelves the affected products,” it said in a statement.
According to the CFS report, “A food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health.” The presence of ethylene oxide in the spice products violated this regulation, prompting immediate action from the food safety watchdog.
Previously Singapore Food Agency(SFA) had recalled India’s ‘Everest fish curry masala’ due to the presence of ethylene oxide, a pesticide that is not authorised for use in food, beyond permissible limits and advised buyers against consuming it. The importer, Sp Muthiah & Sons, has been directed to recall the products, SFA said in a statement on April 18.
Everest, the 57-year old spice brand founded by late Vadilal Bhai Shah is India’s largest manufacturer of pure and blended spices and is present in more than 80 countries globally.
In a statement to TOI, the company said that all its products go through stringent checks before dispatch and before export. Every shipment goes through quality inspection by the Spice Board of India, it said. “We strictly follow the highest hygiene and food safety standards and norms laid down by the authorities concerned and statutory bodies like the Indian Spice Board, FSSAI and others. However, we are awaiting an official communication to understand the issue and our quality control team will look into the matter,” it added.
Ethylene oxide is a cancer-causing agent, making it unsuitable for human consumption. The CFS announced its findings on April 5, revealing that the levels of ethylene oxide found in these spice products exceeded the permissible limits set by Hong Kong regulations.The sale of food containing pesticide residues beyond safe limits is strictly prohibited in Hong Kong under the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM).
Centre For Food Safety of Hong Kong special administrative region announced on April 5 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 above-mentioned samples 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 sale and remove from shelves the affected products,” it said in a statement.
According to the CFS report, “A food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health.” The presence of ethylene oxide in the spice products violated this regulation, prompting immediate action from the food safety watchdog.
Previously Singapore Food Agency(SFA) had recalled India’s ‘Everest fish curry masala’ due to the presence of ethylene oxide, a pesticide that is not authorised for use in food, beyond permissible limits and advised buyers against consuming it. The importer, Sp Muthiah & Sons, has been directed to recall the products, SFA said in a statement on April 18.
Everest, the 57-year old spice brand founded by late Vadilal Bhai Shah is India’s largest manufacturer of pure and blended spices and is present in more than 80 countries globally.
In a statement to TOI, the company said that all its products go through stringent checks before dispatch and before export. Every shipment goes through quality inspection by the Spice Board of India, it said. “We strictly follow the highest hygiene and food safety standards and norms laid down by the authorities concerned and statutory bodies like the Indian Spice Board, FSSAI and others. However, we are awaiting an official communication to understand the issue and our quality control team will look into the matter,” it added.