After Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, now Nepal has also banned the sale, consumption, and import of two Indian spice brands MDH and Everest.
Confirming this, a spokesperson of Nepal’s Food Technology and Quality Control Department said that the import, consumption, and sale of two Indian spice brands MDH and Everest have been banned. According to the spokesperson, the spices of these two brands are being tested for the level of chemical ethylene oxide. The ban will remain in force until the final report comes.
Earlier in April, some products of MDH and Everest companies were banned in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Singapore due to the quantity of pesticide ethylene oxide exceeding the limit. There is a risk of cancer due to excessive quantity of this pesticide in these products. However, on May 6, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had refuted all the media reports claiming that the Indian Food Controller was adding 10 times more pesticides than the prescribed standard in herbs and spices.