Spices Board

Indian spices in global pickle: Is the matter falling between stools?

There are many regulators in the sector, but none regulates the entire supply chain from farm to market

Pesticide controversy: Govt tells MDH, Everest to take corrective measures

EtO is often used in the food industry to reduce bacterial load, yeast and mould, as a fumigant

FSSAI finds no traces of ethylene oxide in MDH, Everest spice samples

As many as 28 samples have been cleared by the scientific panel at FSSAI, with no traces of ETO in them, said sources

Nepal bans sale of 4 MDH, Everest spice-mix products over quality concerns

After Singapore and Hong Kong, Nepal has also banned the sale and import of certain spice-mix products manufactured by Indian brands over alleged quality concerns. Four spice-mix products by MDH and Everest were banned in the Himalayan nation from Friday due to suspected ethylene oxide or EtO contamination, according to the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control here. Under this, Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Mixed Masala Powder; Mixed Masala Curry Powder of MDH and Fish Curry Masala of Everest have been banned in Nepal. As residue contents of ethylene oxide are found to be exceeding the prescribed limit in these four products, the import and sale of these products are banned within the country as per Article 19 of the Food Regulation 2027 B.S., the department said in a notice issued on Friday. Our serious attention has been drawn towards media reports about the sale of these sub-standard products in the market, and they are harmful for consumption, it said. The food qua

Nepal bans 'Everest, MDH Masala' brand, starts test for ethylene oxide

Nepal has banned these two spice brands after the news about high levels of ethylene oxide traces in the products

Sugar in cereals, pesticides in spices; why we struggle to keep food safe

Sugar in baby food is a different challenge, one that has its roots in activist shareholders' demands of a vote on the health impact of Nestle products worldwide

Spices Board formulates guidelines for exporters to curb ETO contamination

The Spices Board has come out with comprehensive guidelines for exporters to prevent ethylene oxide (EtO) -- a carcinogenic chemical -- contamination in the products shipped from India amid quality concerns being flagged by certain countries on these goods. According to the guidelines, exporters would avoid the use of EtO in spices as a sterilising/fumigating agent or any other application; and ensure that transporters, storage/warehouses, packaging material suppliers do not use this chemical at any stage. Exporters shall take adequate measures to ensure the absence of EtO and its metabolites in spices and spice products throughout the supply chain, it said. They would also identify this chemical as a hazard and incorporate critical control points to prevent EtO in their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points and Food Safety Plan in their Food Safety Management System. "Exporters shall test raw materials, processing aids, packaging materials and finished goods for EtO contaminatio

MDH says its products are 100% safe; rejects pesticide allegation

MDH, a leading spice brand, on Saturday assured consumers that its products are 100 per cent safe and rejected the allegations of the presence of certain pesticides in some products by Hong Kong and Singapore food regulators. Earlier this month, Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety (CFS) said that samples of several kinds of pre-packaged spice-mix products of two Indian brands MDH and Everest were found to contain a pesticide ethylene oxide. The CFS asked consumers not to buy and traders not to sell MDH's Madras Curry Powder (spice blend for Madras curry), Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder. In a statement, MDH said it has not received any communications from Hong Kong and Singapore food safety regulators. In reference to the alleged presence of ETO (ethylene oxide) in some of its products, MDH said that "these claims are untrue and lack any substantiating evidence". "Additionally, we would like to assert that

USFDA gathering information on Indian spices after alleged contamination

Hong Kong this month suspended sales of three MDH spice blends and an Everest spice mix for fish curries. Singapore ordered a recall of the Everest spice mix as well

Spices Board examining ban on few MDH, Everest products over quality issues

Spices Board of India on Monday said it is looking into the ban imposed by Hong Kong and Singapore on the sale of four spices-mix products of Indian brands MDH and Everest, which allegedly contain pesticide 'ethylene oxide' beyond permissible limits. While the food safety regulator of Hong Kong has asked consumers not to buy these products and traders not to sell, the Singapore Food Agency has directed a recall of the products. "We are looking into the matter. We are at it," Spices Board of India Director A B Rema Shree told PTI. The companies could not be contacted immediately. In its April 5 statement, the Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety (CFS) said that the samples of several kinds of pre-packaged spice-mix products of two Indian brands were found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide. These products are MDH's Madras Curry Powder (Spice blend for Madras Curry), Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala ...

Spices Board inspects plants of MDH, Everest over alleged contamination

MDH and Everest spices are among the most popular in India and are sold in Europe, Asia and North America. Exports totaled $4 billion in 2022-23, according to the Spices Board, the industry regulator

100 delegates from 31 nations take part in session of committee of spices

As many as 109 delegates from 31 countries participated in a session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) which was held from January 29-February 2 in Kochi, the commerce ministry said on Saturday. After the Covid-19 pandemic, CCSCH was the first session of this committee to be conducted physically. In this session, quality standards for five spices -- small cardamom, turmeric, juniper berry, allpice and star anise -- were finalised. CCSCH has forwarded these five standards to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) recommending for adoption. The next meeting of the committee will be conducted after 18 months. The CAC, jointly established by FAO and WHO, is an international, intergovernmental body with membership of over 194 countries, which is based in Rome and is tasked with formulating internationally accepted standards pertaining to human food. The CCSCH was established as one of the commodity committees under the CAC in 2013.

Emami Agrotech enters spice business, eyes Rs 700-1,000 cr revenue in 5 yrs

Mantra Spices brand includes turmeric, chilli, cumin and coriander powders, and a range of blended masalas; firm plans to tap 200,000 outlets by this year end, 500,000 in next three years

Spices Board banks on value-added products amid struggling exports

Plans to sell products such as spice chocolates, mouth fresheners, cosmetics in the global markets

Kandla Port gets quality evaluation lab of Spices Board

It is the seventh lab set up by Spices Board in India and has latest equipment to test a range of parameters in spice products