Nepal has imposed a ban on the import and sale of powdered spices by Indian companies MDH and Everest Spices. The country has taken this step following reports of high levels of cancer-causing substances in this Indian spice.
Earlier, Hong Kong and Singapore took similar action against Indian spices due to harmful bacteria. NDTV reported this information in a report on Thursday (May 16) night with reference to the Indian news agency ANI.
According to the report, Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has banned the import, use and sale of Indian spice brands Everest and MDH. Nepal is also testing the levels of cancer-causing ingredient ethylene oxide in the spices of the two Indian companies, a country official confirmed to ANI.
Nepal banned these two brands mainly due to reports of high levels of ethylene oxide in the products.
Nepal Food Technology and Quality Control Department spokesperson Mohan Krishna Maharjan told ANI, ‘Import of Everest and MDH brand spices has been banned in Nepal. The move was taken following reports of the presence of harmful chemicals in the spice. A week ago, the import ban was imposed and now we have also banned the sale of this spice in the market.
He further said, ‘Examination is going on to find out the presence of chemicals in these two special brands of spices. The ban will remain in place until the final report. The move follows moves by Hong Kong and Singapore, which have already banned it.
Earlier last month, Hong Kong suspended the sale of MDH’s three types of powdered spices and Everest’s powdered spices used in curries. Singapore also ordered the withdrawal of Everest powder from its market. At the same time, it is advised not to use these spices in cooking.
Authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore have said that the powdered spices of the two Indian companies contain high levels of ethylene oxide. which is unfit for human consumption. And long-term use of ethylene oxide has the risk of developing cancer.
It was then that the US FDA began collecting data on the presence of cancer-causing chemicals in Indian companies’ spice products. Reuters first published the report on the FDA’s review of alleged contamination of Indian spice products.
Powdered spices of these two companies are very popular in India and are also exported to Europe, Asia and North America. Two of the largest companies in India’s spice market are MDH and Everest Spices.
According to the country’s market research firm Zion Market Research, in 2022 these two companies sold spices worth 10.44 billion US dollars. The South Asian country exported spices worth USD 4 billion in 2022-23, according to the Spices Board of India.
Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan are working as brand ambassadors of Everest, one of the most popular Indian spice companies. Started in the 1930s, MDH gained popularity due to their advertising and packaging.
The packet features a picture of the company’s founder Dharampal Gulati with a thick mustache and turban on his head. Dharampal Gulati, known as the ‘Spice King’ or ‘Masala Raja’ in India, died in 2020.
