New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the sale and manufacturing of compounded hing (asafoetida) produced by Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo & Co. (LG). The regulatory body suspended operations for all hing variants from both brands after multiple laboratory tests revealed their products failed to meet mandatory quality and purity standards.
During testing at government laboratories, FSSAI officials categorized several Everest samples as misbranded and sub-standard. The primary violation involved the ‘Alcohol Soluble Extract’—a crucial metric determining the actual proportion of pure asafoetida compared to fillers like flour or edible starch.
Key Findings from FSSAI Testing
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Mandatory Standard: The Alcohol Soluble Extract in compounded hing must be a minimum of 5%.
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Everest Samples: One sample recorded a shocking 0% extract, while the yellow and black hing variants recorded just 3.29% and 4.4%, respectively.
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Laljee Godhoo (LG): Samples consistently showed starch levels far exceeding permissible limits across various batches of raw and compounded hing.
Compounded hing sold in retail markets is typically a blend of pure asafoetida, wheat flour, and edible gum. A 0% Alcohol Soluble Extract indicates the complete absence of genuine hing in the tested batch, which FSSAI flagged as a severe violation.
The food regulator has directed Everest to submit a comprehensive action plan to ensure future compliance. FSSAI warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response or adhere to manufacturing norms will trigger stricter penal actions. The immediate ban on manufacturing and retail sales for both brands will remain in effect until further orders.
This enforcement adds to Everest’s recent regulatory challenges. Earlier in 2024, the brand’s spice mixes faced global scrutiny when food authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore flagged the presence of ethylene oxide, an unauthorized chemical. Furthermore, the current FSSAI order noted past labeling discrepancies in Everest’s Chicken Masala, Garam Masala, and Egg Curry Powder.