UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and several other countries have banned Indian spice brands including Everest and MDH following reports of contamination with ethylene oxide, a carcinogen.
A carcinogen is any substance, agent, or radiation that is directly involved in causing cancer. Carcinogens can damage the genome or disrupt cellular metabolic processes, leading to the uncontrolled cell division.
According to reports, investigations are also underway in New Zealand, the US, and Australia.
“The use of ethylene oxide is not allowed here and maximum residue levels are in place for herbs and spices,” Deputy Director of Food Policy James Cooper told Reuters.
In April, the Hong Kong food safety watchdog banned four spice products of Indian brands MDH and Everest after they found they contained cancer-causing chemicals, ethylene oxide.
In May, Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control also banned the import, consumption and sale of the two Indian spice brands, ANI reported.