The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has barred Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd and Laljee Godhoo and Company from selling hing powder after laboratory testing found their products failed to meet mandatory food safety standards.
The food regulator said it issued prohibition orders against both companies following the detection of quality violations in samples of their compounded hing products. The action against Everest covers its compounded asafoetida variants and has come into effect immediately.
Testing of Everest’s compounded asafoetida found the alcohol-soluble extract at zero per cent, against the minimum prescribed level of 5 per cent under the FSS (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Its Yellow Hing Powder and Black Hing Powder were also declared sub-standard, with alcoholic extract levels of 3.29 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively. The products were also classified as misbranded.
FSSAI has directed Everest to submit a corrective action plan and ensure that only products meeting the prescribed standards are manufactured and sold. The regulator has warned that further action could follow if the company fails to address the violations.
Laljee Godhoo has also been prohibited from selling hing powder after samples of its compounded hing and asafoetida, available in powder and lump forms, failed to conform to regulatory requirements. The samples were found to be both misbranded and sub-standard.
Further testing of raw hing used by the company found excessive starch. FSSAI said starch in hing must not exceed 1 per cent by weight. The company has been asked to submit an action plan detailing corrective measures and ensure that all future products comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.