Spice Brand Everest Faces Recall in Singapore, not Banned

The company’s spokesperson clarified that Everest is not banned in either country. Singapore’s food safety authority referred to Hong Kong’s recall alert and asked the Singapore importer to recall and temporarily hold the product for further inspection.

The company assured consumers that just one of its 60 products is being held for examination and that its products are safe and of high quality. Both Hong Kong and Singapore food regulators have issued warnings against using four products from two Indian spice brands due to the alleged presence of ethylene oxide at levels exceeding the permissible limit.

Ethylene oxide is classified as a ‘Group 1 carcinogen’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. According to Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety, MDH’s three products – Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala, and Curry Powder – along with Everest’s Fish Curry Masala, contain the pesticide ethylene oxide.

The regulator ordered vendors to stop the sale and remove the affected products from shelves. Meanwhile, the Singapore Food Agency ordered a recall of Everest’s Fish Curry Masala due to the presence of ethylene oxide exceeding the permissible limit.

The SFA directed the importer, Sp Muthiah & Sons Pte. Ltd., to recall the products and posted a release on its website.

The Indian government has ordered food commissioners to collect samples of spices from all manufacturing units in India. They stated that all food commissioners have been alerted, and the process of collecting samples has begun.

They also mentioned that samples will be taken from all spice manufacturing companies, not just MDH and Everest. The report on the samples is expected to come from the lab in about 20 days, and strict action will be taken if harmful substances are found in the Indian spices, including provision for criminal proceedings.