US Rejects 31% Of MDH Exports Over Salmonella Since October 2023: Report

A surge in refusal rates for spice-related shipments exported by Mahashian Di Hatti (MDH) Pvt Ltd to the United States due to salmonella contamination has been reported, with US customs authorities rejecting 31% of MDH's spice shipments over the last six months, compared to 15% in the previous year, as reported by The Indian Express.

Concerns over salmonella contamination leading to increased refusal rates come amid sales suspensions of certain items of MDH and Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd in Singapore and Hong Kong due to the alleged detection of carcinogenic pesticides in spice mixes.

US Rejects 31% Of MDH Exports | Report

A Reuters report has indicated that information on MDH and Everest products is being gathered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"The FDA is aware of the reports and is gathering additional information about the situation," stated an FDA spokesperson on Friday, as reported. Both of India's most popular spice brands are also under scrutiny by the Indian regulator for quality standards, following actions taken by Hong Kong and Singapore.

The Spices Board, the industry regulator in India, has initiated inspections of the facilities of spice makers MDH and Everest to assess compliance with quality standards in response to reports of cancer-causing pesticides detected in certain products, as reported by Hindustan Times.

According to the board, data on MDH and Everest exports from relevant authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore has been requested, and efforts are underway to determine the "root cause" of the issue in collaboration with the companies.

"Thorough inspections at exporter facilities are also underway to ensure adherence with regulatory standards. ... The Board is in touch with Indian missions in Singapore and Hong Kong to get more information," stated the board in a released statement.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also begun collecting samples of spices in powder form from all brands, including MDH and Everest, to verify compliance with FSSAI norms, as reported by PTI.

"In view of the current development, FSSAI is taking samples of spices of all brands, including MDH and Everest, from the market to check whether they meet the FSSAI norms," a source familiar with the matter informed PTI.