The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently gathering information on products of Indian spice makers MDH and Everest.
As per Reuters, this decision came after Hong Kong halted sales of some of their products due to alleged high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide.
An FDA spokesperson said in an official statement on Friday, noting, “The FDA is aware of the reports and is gathering additional information about the situation.”
Hong Kong recently suspended sales of three MDH spice blends and an Everest spice mix intended for fish curries.
Meanwhile, Singapore also ordered a recall of the Everest spice mix, citing elevated levels of ethylene oxide, a substance deemed unfit for human consumption and posing a long-term cancer risk.
Everest has previously asserted the safety of its spices for consumption, while MDH has yet to respond to inquiries regarding its products.
Both MDH and Everest spices are highly popular in India and are distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America.
However, India's food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is currently inspecting the quality standards of the two companies following the regulatory actions taken by Hong Kong and Singapore.
Additionally, this isn't the first time MDH has faced scrutiny in the U.S., as in 2019, several batches of its products were recalled due to salmonella contamination.
