Hong Kong and Singapore have banned Indian spice brands MDH and Everest after detecting the presence of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic substance.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer recognizes ethylene oxide as a carcinogen. While it is used industrially as a pesticide and for sterilizing agricultural products to prevent microbial contamination, it is not approved for direct use in food.
Following the findings, regulatory authorities in both territories have directed retail outlets to withdraw these spice products from their shelves immediately and have warned consumers to avoid using any previously purchased items.
In response to these developments, the Indian government has initiated a comprehensive review, instructing food commissioners to collect and analyze spice samples from manufacturers across India to ensure compliance and safety.
This action comes after another safety scandal involving an Indian company. The pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech was linked to the deaths of 19 children in Uzbekistan due to contaminated cough syrup.
Investigations revealed that Marion Biotech had used industrial-grade propylene glycol in its products, supplied by Maya Chem Tech India, which is only licensed to trade in non-pharmaceutical-grade materials.
A representative from Maya Chem Tech stated they were unaware of Marion Biotech’s intentions for using the product, indicating a critical breakdown in regulatory compliance and oversight.
