 "Explained: Why is Singapore recalling India's popular Everest fish curry masala?")
Indian spices are a wide variety of flavours used in many culinary styles.
But in the most recent development, a well-known Indian spice product has come under scanner in Singapore.
Everest Fish Curry Masala, which was imported from India, has been recalled by Singapore, alleging that it contains high levels of ethylene oxide, a pesticide that is considered unsafe for human consumption.
Let’s take a closer look.
Singapore recalls Everest fish curry masala
The Everest product is being recalled as a result of a notification from the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety indicating that ethylene oxide levels in it exceed the permissible levels.
“The Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong has issued a notification on the recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala from India due to the presence of ethylene oxide at levels exceeding permissible limits,” the Singapore Food Agency said in a statement, as per NDTV.
The importer Sp Muthiah and Sons Pte. Ltd has been instructed by the SFA to begin an extensive product recall.
Customers who purchased the implicated products were urged not to consume them by the regulating organisation.
“Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers may contact their point of purchase for enquiries," the SFA statement read.
Everest, ubiquitous in Indian kitchens, is known for selling various spice mixes that are key to Indian cooking. The company has not issued a statement on this yet.
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Why ethylene oxide is banned in the island country
The use of ethylene oxide in spices is prohibited in Singapore due to serious health concerns.
According to Business Today, only agricultural products can be fumigated using it to avoid microbial contamination. The nation’s food regulations permit the sterilisation of spices using ethylene oxide.
The authorities say eating food contaminated with low levels of ethylene oxide has little immediate risk, but prolonged exposure can have negative health effects.
The US Environmental Protection Agency says long-term exposure to ethylene oxide in humans can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and damage to the brain and nervous system. There also is some evidence linking ethylene oxide exposure to reproductive effects,
As a result, it is best to limit your exposure to this content.
Also read: Why has Digene gel, the acidity medicine, been recalled in India? Is it safe to consume?
Similar moves in other countries
In July last year, three Indian spice products that were distributed in eleven US states were withdrawn by their importer following a salmonella test that showed a positive outcome.
The company that initiated the recall was Amin Trading Agency LLC.
According to the Washington Times, the spices — garam masala and sambhar masala — were Everest brand products, which were produced by Everest Food Products Private Limited in Gujarat.
Maggi, a Nestle subsidiary, also had to withdraw its line of masala spices. There have been no complaints of illnesses connected to any of the three spice products.
As stated in the recall notification made by the Food and Drug Administration, Everest had no intention of having the products sold in American markets; instead, Amin Trading directly sourced the spices from Indian retail stores. Similarly, only Indian markets were intended for the marketing of the Maggi product.
The Maggi product came in a six-gramme box, but the two Everest varieties were offered in 100-gramme boxes.
According to a statement from the US FDA, three lots of the condiment brand MDH’s Sambhar masala were recalled in the US in September 2019 after it was discovered that they contained Salmonella bacteria, according to a previous report by _Firstpost_ .
Sambhar is a southern Indian staple, eaten almost daily in many households.
“This product was tested by FDA through a certified laboratory to be positive for Salmonella,” the regulatory body said in a press statement, adding, “The recall was initiated after it was discovered by the FDA that the Salmonella contaminated products were distributed.”
Sambar masala was sold in northern California in stores. House Of Spices (India) distributes the product, which is produced by R Pure Agro Specialities. According to The Indian Express, the directors on the board of R-Pure are also directors of MDH.
For those uninitiated, the salmonella bacteria can cause serious and severe infections, especially in children or elderly people, and others with weak immune systems. Illnesses usually last four to seven days and most people recover without treatment, according to the FDA.
With inputs from agencies
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