GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 28th April. The well-known Indian spice company MDH denied on Saturday that any of its products contained a chemical that causes cancer, describing the accusations as “baseless, untrue, and lacking any substantiating evidence”.
The company released a statement a few days after Singapore and Hong Kong outlawed the sale of MDH and Everest, two Indian spice brands, on the grounds that they had found the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide in a number of spice blends.
“There is no data to support the false claims that our goods contain ethylene oxide…Furthermore, neither Singaporean nor Hong Kong regulatory authorities have contacted MDH. This serves to further demonstrate that the accusations made against MDH are unfounded, unsupported by proof, and unfounded,” the MDH stated in a statement, which PTI obtained.
It went on to reassure clients about the quality and safety of each and every one of its items.
We want to provide our customers and buyers the peace of mind that we never utilize ethylene oxide (ETO) when storing, processing, or packing our spices. We adhere to national and international health and safety regulations,” the statement read.
MDH continued, “MDH tagline ‘Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH’ and ‘Real Spices of India’ reflect our genuine commitment to providing authentic, high-quality spices to customers.”
Why were MDH and Everest spices banned in Singapore and Hong Kong?
The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s Center for Food Safety said that they found the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in a number of spice blends from the two brands of spices, MDH and Everest.
The Hong Kong authorities released a notice stating that upon detecting the presence of the pesticide, the food regulator in the country took samples of three pre-packaged spice products made by MDH, namely “Madras Curry Powder,” “Sambhar Masala Powder,” and “Curry Powder,” as well as Everest Group’s “Fish Curry Masala,” for testing as part of its regular food surveillance program.
After that, the CFS gave the concerned Tsim Sha Tsui city traders in Hong Kong instructions to stop stocking those items and take them off their shelves. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) likewise issued a recall notice and ban on the products shortly after Hong Kong’s move.
“People who have eaten the products in question and are worried about their health ought to consult a doctor. For inquiries, customers should get in touch with their point of purchase, according to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
In the meanwhile, on April 23, the Center requested information from Singapore and Hong Kong’s food safety authorities. Government representatives told Reuters that the exporters who are affected by the embargo would also be involved in determining the cause of the prohibition and the necessary corrective measures.
