The action followed a Rajasthan Health Department letter to the Centre saying some of these brands' spices were unsafe for consumption.
MDH, and Everest products which have found to have pesticides in Hong Kong. (Supplied)
Rajasthan has started recalling certain batches of spice products from popular brands MDH and Everest after they were found unsafe for consumption, according to a Reuters report.
This action followed a letter from the Rajasthan Health Department to the Centre, highlighting that tests had revealed some spices from these brands were unsafe for consumption.
Those batches are now being recalled, senior state health official Shubhra Singh said.
“Rajasthan has started recalling … only the impugned batches are being recalled,” Singh told Reuters, adding that officials at the district level were ensuring the recall instructions were implemented.
Rajasthan last week said it had seized 12,000 kg of various spices for alleged contamination, and found that some contained a “very high level” of pesticide and insecticides.
Shubhra Singh, the Additional Chief Secretary for Health, stated in her letter, which has been seen by Reuters but was not public, that the state authorities of Gujarat and Haryana, where the MDH and Everest batches were produced, “should be asked to take action in the matter without delay”.
According to the Reuters report, the Rajasthan government tested various spice samples and found that one batch of Everest spice mixes and two MDH spice products were unsafe.
Shubhra Singh, informed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) about this issue.
On 20 April, South First reported that Hong Kong’s food regulator, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS), had identified that four products from spice brands MDH and Everest contained the pesticide ethylene oxide, which is classified as a Group-1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
The food regulator of Hong Kong found that three products of MDH — Madras Curry Powder (spice blend for Madras Curry), Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder — and Everest Fish Curry Masala contained the pesticide ethylene oxide.
Following Hong Kong’s action, Singapore also ordered a recall of the Everest mix.
New Zealand, the United States, and Australia also announced they were investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, Britain implemented additional controls on all spices imported from India — the world’s largest exporter, producer, and consumer of spices.
(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)
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