Bangladesh authorities are yet to take any steps regarding the use of spices from two Indian brands that were recalled by food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore after presence of cancer-causing ingredients were found in them.
Even the officials of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution said that they are not aware of the imports of the spice products of the two brands in Bangladesh.聽
When asked about the Indian spice products, BSTI deputy director Md Riazul Haque told 抖阴精品 that 鈥楢s far as I know, such types of Indian spices are not imported to Bangladesh.鈥�
However, the spices of the two Indian brands鈥擬DH and Everest鈥攁re still selling at the shops, especially through the online shops in Bangladesh.
A visit to some sites of e-commerce shops, including Chaldal.com and Darazbd.com online shops, on Wednesday found that they were selling spices of these two companies.
Contacted, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority chairman Zakaria told 抖阴精品 that聽鈥榃e came to know about the news through the media, but examining the spices is not our jurisdiction,鈥� he said.
He, however, said that it is the job of the BSTI to examine the spices.
The food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore recently issued warnings against the use of four products from two Indian spice brands after finding the presence of ethylene oxide at levels exceeding the permissible limit, the Indian media reported.
The food regulators raised concerns about the cancer-causing chemical found in certain products of the spice brands MDH and Everest.
Ethylene oxide has been classified as a 鈥楪roup 1 carcinogen鈥� by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, according to a NDTV report published online on Wednesday.
Three spice products of MDH鈥擬adras Curry Powder (spice blend for Madras Curry), Sambhar Masala (mixed Masala Powder), and Curry Powder (mixed Masala Powder)鈥攁long with Everest鈥檚 Fish Curry Masala contain 鈥榓 pesticide, ethylene oxide鈥�, stated Hong Kong鈥檚 Centre for Food Safety on April 5, according to the report.
The regulators have instructed vendors 鈥榯o stop the sale and remove from shelves the affected products鈥�.
The Indian media reported that the Singapore Food Agency has ordered a recall of Everest鈥檚 Fish Curry Masala due to the presence of ethylene oxide at levels 鈥榚xceeding the permissible limit鈥�.
The Singapore regulator released a statement on its website on April 18, stating that it 鈥榟as directed the importer, Sp Muthiah & Sons Pte Ltd, to recall the products.
However, Indian manufacturer Everest Food said on Tuesday that its spices are safe for consumption.
Popular in India, Everest鈥檚 spice mixes are exported to countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Indian food authorities ordered quality checks on Monday after the concerns were raised.