MDH, a prominent spice brand, issued a statement on Saturday, assuring consumers of the complete safety of its products and dismissing allegations made by food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore regarding the presence of certain pesticides, news agency PTI reported.
Earlier this month, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong reported that samples of various pre-packaged spice mix products from two Indian brands, MDH and Everest, were found to contain a pesticide known as ethylene oxide. The CFS advised consumers against purchasing and traders against selling MDH’s Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder.
According to a report by PTI, MDH clarified that it had not received any official communication from food safety regulators in Hong Kong or Singapore. Regarding the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, MDH stated that these claims were unfounded and lacked substantial evidence. The company also said that neither the Spice Board of India nor the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had received any communication or test reports from authorities in Hong Kong or Singapore regarding this matter.
MDH stated that the accusations against it were baseless, unsubstantiated, and unsupported by concrete evidence. The company assured its customers of the safety and quality of all its products, affirming that it does not utilize ethylene oxide at any stage of storing, processing, or packing its spices.
MDH pointed out its adherence to health and safety standards, both domestically and internationally. The company emphasized its commitment to providing authentic, high-quality spices to its customers, as reflected in its tagline, “Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH” (True spices, MDH MDH) and “Real Spices of India.”
Following Hong Kong’s directive, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also ordered a recall of imported Everest Fish Curry Masala. India, being the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices, exported spices worth nearly Rs 32,000 crore in 2022-23. Major exported spices include chilli, cumin, spice oil and oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder, and cardamom.
