Everest Says Spice Mixes Deemed Safe Amid Regulatory Scrutiny in Hong Kong and Singapore

Everest Food Products, known for its popular spice mixes, assured consumers that its products are safe to use despite recent concerns raised by authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The reassurance came after Singapore asked an importer to recall one of Everest’s products for inspection, following Hong Kong’s decision to ban the sale of the same product due to worries about cancer risks.

After regulatory actions in Hong Kong and Singapore, Indian food authorities also started quality checks on Everest products.

Rajiv Shah, a director at Everest, stated that their products undergo rigorous testing and approval from the Spice Board of India before being exported. He emphasized that only one out of Everest’s 60 products was held for examination in Singapore, indicating the safety of their offerings.

The regulatory concerns arose from Everest’s fish curry masala, which was suspected of containing high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide. Singapore issued a warning advising consumers not to consume the implicated product.

This incident happened at the same time as Hong Kong suspended sales of three spice blends from another company, MDH, which is also under scrutiny in India.

Both Hong Kong and Singaporean authorities expressed concerns about elevated levels of ethylene oxide in some products from Everest and MDH. Ethylene oxide is considered unsafe for human consumption and can pose a cancer risk with prolonged exposure.

Everest and MDH spices are widely used in homes and restaurants across the Indian subcontinent, and Everest’s products are exported to various regions globally.

In summary, Everest Food Products affirmed the safety of their spice mixes despite recent regulatory actions, ensuring consumers of their product’s safety and quality.