North India Statesman
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MDH and Everest, the major companies doing spice business in India, are currently under the scanner of many questions. Last week, Singapore had banned the spices of these two Indian companies and now Hong Kong has done the same.
When samples of these spices were tested in the laboratories of these two countries, pesticide ethylene oxide was found in excess of the prescribed quantity, which can cause cancer in humans. This is a very difficult situation for the citizens of India because till now the citizens of the country have been blindly trusting these spices.
The kitchen of every house would be incomplete without the spices of these companies. Earlier, samples of Basmati rice from Punjab had failed in the Middle-Eastern countries as well as in some Western countries because of the lab. During investigation, pesticide elements were found in this rice. Experts from agricultural universities and other agricultural institutions of India will have to reconsider their policies.
Have the farmers of the country started using more pesticides at their level to get more yield or are experts advising them to spray more than the prescribed quantity. Is it not true that the farmers of Punjab have not poisoned the land and ground water of their state by spraying excessive pesticides? But cancer factors are being openly added to Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder and Curry Powder prepared by MDH by this company itself. At the same time, such elements have also been found in Everest Company's fish curry masala.
International agencies have also confirmed that the pesticides being mixed in these spices can pose a serious threat to health. It has even been claimed that it can cause breast cancer in women. In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration banned all Everest spices and other foods because they were found to contain a bacteria called Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning and which infects many animals. Eggs, pork , in the form of raw meat of turkey and chicken.
The question of morality also arises here. After all, how low can a person and big organizations stoop to earn blind money? Now we have to find answers to such questions. Will there be any legal action in India against these companies which bring bad name to the country at the international level? If no action could be taken, would Indians have to become scapegoats?
