The scrutiny over alleged contamination in some of MDH's spice products has led to rejections of its US shipments, with an average of 14.5% being rejected due to the presence of bacteria, according to Reuters analysis of US regulatory data.
Hong Kong and Singapore banned certain spice products from MDH and Everest after detecting high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide, ethylene oxide. Both companies have refuted these allegations, asserting the safety of their products and denying the use of ethylene oxide in their processing or packing.
However, data from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals that MDH products faced rejections due to the presence of salmonella, a bacteria causing gastrointestinal illness. Around 20% of MDH's shipments to the US were rejected between October 2023 and May 2024, with fenugreek and mixed spices being among the rejected items.
Everest faced fewer rejections in the US, with only one shipment out of 450 being rejected in FY 2023-24 due to salmonella. However, in 2022-23, around 3.7% of Everest's shipments to the US were stopped, and the FDA recalled some of its products over salmonella concerns in the past.
Singapore's Food Agency (SFA) recalled Everest's Fish Curry Masala last month due to excessive levels of ethylene oxide. Although SFA clarified that there was no immediate risk from low levels of ethylene oxide, prolonged consumption could pose health risks due to its carcinogenic properties.
In response to the recalls, the Spices Board of India announced mandatory testing for ethylene oxide in spice consignments bound for Singapore and Hong Kong. The board is collaborating with exporters to identify the root cause of the issue and propose corrective measures.
