Following Singapore and Hong Kong, Nepal has now banned the sale and consumption of spices produced by Everest and MDH due to concerns over harmful chemical traces. Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control is testing these spices for ethylene oxide, a pesticide known to cause cancer, according to ANI.

Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal's food technology department, told ANI, "We have banned the import and sale of Everest and MDH brand spices after reports of harmful chemicals in the products."

"Chemical tests on the spices from these two brands are ongoing. The ban will remain until the final report is available," Maharjan added.

MDH and Everest, long-established household names in India, export their spice ranges to multiple countries, including those in the Middle East. However, their products are also under scrutiny in New Zealand, the United States, and Australia, Reuters reported.

Jenny Bishop, the acting deputy director general of New Zealand's food safety regulator, told Reuters, "Ethylene oxide is a chemical known to cause cancer in humans, and its use for food sterilization has been phased out in New Zealand and other countries. As MDH and Everest spices are also available in New Zealand, we are looking into this issue."

In April, Hong Kong's food safety authority banned four spice products from these brands. Shortly after, Singapore's Food Agency (SFA) recalled Everest's Fish Curry Masala for exceeding permissible levels of ethylene oxide.

India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has also initiated quality checks on MDH and Everest products and has requested information from the food safety regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore.