Nepal bans sale of Everest, MDH spices over safety concerns; starts test for ethylene oxide

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• May 17, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

MDH and Everest have been well-known brands in India for many years, with their range of spices being exported to various countries, including the Middle East. 

Digital Desk: After Singapore and Hong Kong, Nepal has banned the consumption and sale of spices manufactured by Everest and MDH due to concerns about the presence of harmful chemicals in the products. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in Nepal has initiated testing on spices from these two Indian brands for ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic pesticide, as reported by ANI.

"We have banned the import and sale of Everest and MDH brand spices. This action follows reports of harmful chemical traces found in these spices," stated Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal's food technology department, in an interview with ANI. "Testing is currently ongoing to detect these chemicals in spices from these specific brands. The ban will remain in effect until the final report is released," Maharjan added.

MDH and Everest have been well-known brands in India for many years, with their range of spices being exported to various countries, including the Middle East. However, the spices from MDH and Everest have also faced scrutiny in New Zealand, the United States, and Australia, as reported by Reuters.

"Ethylene oxide is a chemical known to cause cancer in humans, and its use for food sterilization has been phased out in New Zealand and other nations. Since MDH and Everest spices are available in New Zealand, we are investigating this matter," explained Jenny Bishop, acting deputy director general of New Zealand's food safety regulator, to Reuters.

In April, the food safety authority in Hong Kong banned four spice products from these brands. Shortly after, Singapore's Food Agency (SFA) recalled Everest's Fish Curry Masala due to exceeding permissible levels of ethylene oxide.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has already directed quality checks on products from MDH and Everest and has requested information from the food safety authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore.