The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated sampling of powdered spices from various brands, including MDH and Everest, nationwide, following quality concerns raised by Singapore and Hong Kong authorities, according to a government source. FSSAI aims to verify compliance with its standards amidst ongoing scrutiny.
While FSSAI doesn’t oversee the quality of exported spices, it routinely samples domestic market products to ensure adherence to regulations. Concurrently, the Spices Board of India is investigating the ban imposed by Hong Kong and Singapore on certain Indian spice-mix products, alleged to contain excessive levels of the pesticide ‘ethylene oxide.’ Efforts to reach the companies for comment were unsuccessful.
Hong Kong’s Center for Food Safety and Singapore’s Food Agency have issued advisories against purchasing or selling these products, which include MDH’s Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder.