Centre for Food Safety

Prepackaged crushed red pepper and prepackaged oregano

Product name: Crushed Red Pepper

Brand: Spice Hunter

Place of origin: The United States

Net weight: 36 grams

Best-before date: November 15, 2027

Distributor: V-Care Asia Ltd.

Product name: Organic Oregano

Brand: Barnes

Place of origin: India

Net weight: 24 grams

Best-before date: June 15, 2027

Distributor: Co Op Buy Ltd.

• The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) collected the above-mentioned samples from two online vendors for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide.
• According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, ethylene oxide is genotoxic and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen.

• The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularity and instructed them to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected products.
• The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

• Stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess them.

• Not to consume the affected products.

The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the distributors' hotlines 2365 9985 (V-Care Asia Ltd.) and 9015 9022 (Co Op Buy Ltd.) during office hours for enquiries about the recalls of the products concerned.