MDH, Everest row: Australia’s food safety regulators instigate investigation

Delhi: Australia's food safety regulators are currently investigating potential contamination risks associated with spice mixes from Indian manufacturers MDH and Everest. This inquiry could potentially lead to a food recall depending on the findings, as indicated in a statement on Tuesday.

Concerns were raised after Hong Kong halted sales of three MDH spice blends and an Everest fish curry mix earlier this month. Singapore followed suit, issuing a recall for the Everest mix due to detected high levels of ethylene oxide, a substance not approved for consumption and known for its carcinogenic risks with prolonged exposure.

Both MDH and Everest have reassured consumers of the safety of their products. These brands are among the most recognised in India and have a broad market reach, including Europe, Asia, and North America.

Adding to the scrutiny, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday that it is also collecting more information regarding these spice blends. Recent actions by Indian authorities include inspections of MDH and Everest's manufacturing facilities.

Additionally, Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has notified the Indian embassy about the test results for necessary follow-up actions, though specific details of these actions were not disclosed. This international concern highlights the critical importance of maintaining stringent quality controls in food production to ensure consumer safety across global markets.

This is not the first instance of contamination concerns with these brands. In 2019, MDH faced a recall in the U.S. due to salmonella contamination in several spice batches. More recently, in 2023, the FDA mandated a recall of two Everest spice mixes citing similar contamination risks.