Toxic substances have been discovered in various spice blends including Pakistan’s Shan Masalas in Germany. Shan Masalas recalled in Germany and warning has been extended by the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety.
Why Shan masalas recalled in Germany?
Consumers are advised not to consume various Shan brand spice combinations from Star Food Impex Gmbh, according to the consumer web produktwarning.eu. According to a press statement issued by the producer, an increased quantity of ethylene oxide was discovered in the Shan brand’s “Lahori Charga” spice blend, according to a report by the Institute for Hygiene and the Environment in Hamburg.
A large recall effort appears to be affecting SHAN Masala in Germany. According to the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety in Germany, the various SHAN Masala products contain ethylene oxide residues. The use of the material in food production is prohibited by the Federal Office for Risk Assessment because it has mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Many Shan brand products are also being recalled at the moment.
There is currently a recall for 12 Shan masala spice products. Only mixtures with the following best-before dates are affected:
| product | brand | Affected best before date |
| “Chicken Jalfrezi” Spice Mixture | Shan | 09/20/2024 |
| “Chicken Handi” Spice Mixture | Shan | 11/07/2025 |
| “Curry Powder” Spice Mixture | Shan | 09/20/2024 |
| “Beef Biryani” Spice Mixture | Shan | 10/07/2025 |
| Seekh Kabab Spice Mix | Shan | 06/21/2025 |
| Spice mix “Tandori Masala” | Shan | 07/01/2025 |
| “Tikka” Spice Mixture | Shan | 01/21/2025 |
| Fish Biryan Spice Mixture | Shan | 01/06/2025 |
| Garam Masala Powder Spice Blend | Shan | 11/11/2024 |
| Punjabi Yakhni Pilau Spice Blend | Shan | 11/21/2025 |
| Spice mix “Tikkiya Kabab Masala” | Shan | 05/25/2024 |
| Vegetable Biryani Spice Blend | Shan | 09/20/2023 |
Why are Shan Masala products banned:
In Germany, ethylene oxide is prohibited in food which was present in the Shan masalas. Ethylene oxide was employed in crop protection and as a disinfectant, according to the BfR. The use of ethylene oxide in plant protection products was legal in Germany until 1981, and in the rest of the European Union (EU) until 1991, according to Berlin authorities. Furthermore, up until 2011, the chemical could be used in the EU for fumigation of food and animal feed to protect them from fungal and bacterial contamination during transport and storage. Since 2011, all applications in the food and feed industries have been prohibited. Outside of the food industry, the use of ethylene oxide in biocidal agents is now restricted to disinfection and sterilization.