Possible traces of ethylene oxide have been detected in some foods from the Mdh and Everest companies. In Europe the use of this gas for food purposes is prohibited and from September 2020 to April 2024 over 500 goods are considered at risk
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Possible traces of carcinogenic products in some Indian spices. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Indian government body that deals with the regulation of food commodities, is analyzing the products made by two local spice companies because they allegedly contain a pesticide that could cause cancer: ethylene oxide (EtO). This decision came after four popular spice blends produced by Mdh and Everest, two of the largest spice companies in India, were banned in Hong Kong and Singapore in early April. The local authorities, in fact, had found traces of EtO. The Food and Drug Administration, the US counterpart of FSSAI, has also opened an investigation and is examining the products of the two Indian companies. In Europe between September 2020 and April 2024, approximately 527 foods with carcinogenic substances were identified.
Ethylene oxide and its risks
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a gas used for industrial purposes, including the sterilization of surgical instruments, but also (in countries where it is not banned) for some food products such as spices, dried herbs, dried vegetables, sesame and nuts. It seems, therefore, that India also uses it in the agricultural sector. As reported by the EPA, US environmental protection agency: “EtO is carcinogenic to humans. Scientific evidence indicates that regular exposure to this gas over many years increases the risk of white blood cell cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma, and lymphocytic leukemia. Studies also show that long-term exposure to EtO increases the risk of breast cancer in women.” Short exposures to large quantities, we always read on the EPA website, “may cause headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, respiratory irritation (such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing) and, in some cases, vomiting and other types of gastrointestinal disorders.
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The products involved
Mdh and Everest are among the most important companies in the sector in India and in the world. As reported by the Economic Times of India, Hong Kong’s food regulator has recalled three Mdh spice products: Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala and Curry Powder. . Singapore has instead removed “fish curry Masala”, a mix of curry and spices for fish dishes from the Everest company, from the market. However, it would not be the first time that the two companies have problems with their products: as The Economic Times always explains, while in 2022 the US customs authorities had denied entry to almost 15% of MDH shipments, in 2023 this figure doubled to almost 31%. In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled Everest Food Products due to a positive test for salmonella.
In Europe
In Europe the use of ethylene oxide in the food sector is strictly prohibited. After the problems that have emerged in recent days with Mdh and Everest, the European Union surprisingly reported that between September 2020 and April 2024 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) identified carcinogenic chemicals in 527 Indian food products. As The Economic Times explains, of the 527 items reported, 525 were food products and 2 were feed. 332 articles had India labeled as the only country of origin, the rest were also labeled with other areas.
