WHY DID HONG KONG, SINGAPORE RECALL MDH, EVEREST SPICES? HOW DOES ADULTERATION AFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
Singapore and Hong Kong have recalled two popular Indian spice brands – MDH and Everest, raising safety concerns. According to news reports, the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong conducted routine food surveillance and found that four products contained ethylene oxide - a pesticide deemed unsuitable for human consumption.
Ethylene oxide is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The affected products include MDH's curry powder, mixed masala powder, and sambhar masala, along with Everest's Fish Curry Masala. Following this discovery, the regulatory authorities have instructed vendors to halt the sale and remove these products from shelves.
Related News |This is not the first time that Indian spice products have faced scrutiny in international markets. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested Everest Food Products to recall certain items after they tested positive for Salmonella - an infection with Salmonella bacteria that causes diarrhoea, fever, stomach pains, and other foodborne illnesses.
Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a liver specialist, expressed concern over food safety standards, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and accountability.
“What is the Indian food regulator doing? If this is the morbid scene with international exports, what are we exposed to here? India has no value for public health and seems like the Government and most people are content with distractive politics and religion. We need to start an era of Citizen Science in India, to make those responsible, also accountable,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Related News |Why is ethylene oxide toxic?
Ethylene Oxide or ETO is a highly toxic, colourless, flammable gas that, at room temperature, produces a sweet odour. It has hazardous substances used in pharmaceuticals, polyurethane foam, adhesives, detergents, textiles, anti-freeze, and solvents.Doctors say even minimal exposure to Ethylene Oxide gas can create an increased risk of adverse health effects, including
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty with breathing or breathlessness
- Breast cancer
- Nervous system conditions
It can also cause other cancers like brain, lung, uterus, etc, apart from acute poisoning with symptoms like nausea, headache, dizziness, and numbness.
Doctors say in some extreme cases, it can also cause memory loss.
Ways to prevent food adulteration
According to the National Health Service and Food Research Institute, several food products have been adulterated to increase the quantity and make more profit – by adding chemicals to food products.A few ways you can prevent and avoid adulteration include:
- Avoid dark-coloured, junk, and other processed foods
- Make sure to clean all your spices before making them into masalas
- Always check if the product seal is valid before buying food products
- Always buy products having an FSSAI-validated label, along with the license number, list of ingredients, manufactured date, and its expiration