MDH, Everest Spice Row: MDH refutes claims of pesticide usage and guarantees customers’ safety

Prominent spice manufacturer MDH released a statement on Saturday, telling customers that all of its products are completely safe and refuting claims made by food officials in Singapore and Hong Kong that certain pesticides are present, according to news agency PTI.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong revealed earlier this month that samples of different pre-packaged spice mix products from two Indian companies, MDH and Everest, were discovered to contain ethylene oxide, a pesticide. The CFS cautioned buyers not to buy MDH’s Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder, and dealers not to sell them.

MDH emphasized that it had not received any formal correspondence from Singapore’s or Hong Kong’s food safety agencies, per a PTI article. MDH declared that there was insufficient evidence to support the statements made about the presence of ethylene oxide. Additionally, the business said that no correspondence or test results from Hong Kong or Singaporean authorities had been received by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or the Spice Board of India.

MDH said that the charges against it lacked credibility, were unsupported by hard data, and were unfounded. The business affirmed that it does not use ethylene oxide at any point during the storage, processing, or packaging of its spices, assuring its clients of the safety and quality of all of its offerings.

MDH emphasized how closely it adheres to national and international health and safety regulations. The company’s taglines, “Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH” (True spices, MDH MDH) and “Real Spices of India,” highlight its dedication to provide genuine, premium spices to its clientele.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has issued an order for the recall of imported Everest Fish Curry Masala in accordance with Hong Kong’s instruction. India, the top producer, buyer, and exporter of spices worldwide, shipped over Rs 32,000 crore worth of spices in 2022–2023. Important spices that are exported include cardamom, turmeric, curry powder, cumin, chili, and spice oil and oleoresins.