Everest Hing ban: FSSAI bans sale of Laljee Godhoo, Everest compounded asafoetida over 'misbranded and sub-standard' products

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited the sale of compounded asafoetida, or hing, products of Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo and Company with immediate effect, after samples were found to be sub-standard, misbranded and non-compliant with prescribed quality norms.

The regulator also flagged previous compliance issues involving Everest Garam Masal, Chicken Masala and Egg Curry Powder, including alleged non-declaration of salt content exceeding 5% and spice content on product labels.

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In Everest Food Products' case, samples of its compounded asafoetida, or hing powder, were found to be “misbranded and sub-standard” by a primary food laboratory, according to an FSSAI order.

The regulator said the products failed to meet prescribed standards for alcohol soluble extract, which should not be less than 5%. In one sample, the extract was found to be 0%, while Yellow Hing Powder and Black Hing Powder recorded alcoholic extract levels of 3.29% and 4.4%, respectively.

FSSAI said similar non-compliance was detected during routine surveillance activities and across samples collected from various sources and locations, indicating a consistent pattern of products containing less than the prescribed 5% alcoholic extract.

“In view of the above contraventions, the sale” of compounded asafoetida and all its variants by Everest has been prohibited with immediate effect until further orders, the order said.

Everest Food Products has been directed to submit an action plan to rectify the continued sale of sub-standard compounded hing and ensure that only products meeting standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, are sold.

The food safety authority stated that further action could be initiated if the company fails to provide a satisfactory explanation or ensure compliance.

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Separately, the regulator also prohibited Laljee Godhoo and Company from manufacturing and selling compounded hing or compounded asafoetida with immediate effect.

Samples of the company's compounded hing, including powder and lump variants, were found to be sub-standard and non-conforming to prescribed requirements. Some samples were also found to be misbranded, FSSAI said.

The regulator said raw hing varieties used by Laljee Godhoo in the manufacture of compounded hing were found to contain excess starch. Under FSSAI regulations, starch content in hing cannot exceed 1% by weight.

FSSAI said the violations appeared pervasive across batches based on market surveillance, legal sampling and non-conforming test reports of raw materials used in manufacturing.

Laljee Godhoo has also been directed to submit an action plan to rectify the alleged malpractice and ensure that only standard products are manufactured and sold in accordance with food safety regulations.