MDH and Everest masala are on the radar of the Australian food security agency. Know the details; MDH and Everest Masala Ban: Indian spice companies MDH and Everest are currently being investigated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) for possible contamination in their spice mixes, as reported by Reuters.
MDH Everest masala ban
FSANZ announced on April 30 that they are looking into these claims. If necessary, these products may be recalled in Australia. It is following similar actions taken in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Official statement of FSANZ
FSANZ stated in a release, “We are collaborating with international partners to investigate this matter. We are working closely with federal, state, and territory food regulatory authorities to assess the situation in Australia.” The agency mentioned that a recall could be a potential course of action. According to the Reuters report, FSANZ emphasized that the use of ethylene oxide as a treatment for food products sold in Australia is not permitted.
FDA action on MDH Everest
The FDA announced on April 26 that it is gathering more information on the matter, while Indian regulators have conducted inspections at MDH and Everest facilities. In 2019, the FDA ordered a recall of certain MDH products due to salmonella contamination. More recently, in 2023, the agency issued a recall of two spice mixes from Everest for similar contamination concerns. India has requested data from Hong Kong and Singapore regarding exports of MDH and Everest following regulatory actions in those countries.The Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong recently released a statement mentioning that the Indian embassy was informed of the test results for further actions, although specific details were not provided.
