Days after a Singapore food regulator banned spice mixes solde by Everest Food Products over alleged excessive content of cancer-causing pesticide ethylene oxide, Hong Kong has also cracked down on MDH and Everest products.
Food regulators in both Hong Kong and Singapore have directed vendors to remove the banned products from shelves. Ethylene oxide is used to fumigate agricultural products to prevent microbial contamination, according to Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) stated that it found ethylene oxide in Everest's Fish Curry Masala as well as MDH products, including Madras Curry Powder, Mixed Masala Powder and Sambhar Masala.
“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,” stated the authorities in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
"The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health. An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction," it added.
After clamping down on Everest, the Singapore's SFA stated, "Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice."
In June 2023, the US Food and Drugs Authority had ordered recall of Everest's sambhar masala and garam masala as well as Nestle's Maggi Masala-ae-Magic from 11 states after the products tested positive for Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause diarrhoea and nausea. In September 2019, the FDA had asked MDH to recall its sambhar masala distributed in norther California over salmonella contamination.