The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued Prohibition Orders against M/s Everest Food Products Private Limited and M/s Laljee Godhoo and Company under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, according to an enforcement notice shared by the regulator.
The material details the order involving Everest Food Products. It prohibits the sale of compounded asafoetida, also known as hing powder, with all its variants. The prohibition takes immediate effect and remains in place until further orders.
Findings cited against Everest
The notice says samples of compounded asafoetida were found to be “Misbranded and Sub-standard” by the Food Analyst of the primary food laboratory. It also states that the products did not comply with the FSS (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
A key issue concerned the alcohol-soluble extract. The extract obtained from the products was recorded at 0.00%, while the prescribed standard was not less than 5%.
The notice separately identifies Yellow Hing Powder and Black Hing Powder as sub-standard. Their alcoholic extract was reported at 3.29% and 4.4%, respectively.
Surveillance samples collected during routine activity were also found to be non-compliant on the parameter of alcoholic extract, according to the enforcement material.
Earlier compliance concerns
The notice refers to previous regulatory compliance reviews involving Chicken Masala, Garam Masala and Egg Curry Powder. Those reviews identified non-declaration of salt content exceeding 5% and non-declaration of spice content on the label.
It also describes a consistent non-compliance in sample testing of asafoetida collected from various sources and locations. The goods were found to be sub-standard because they contained less than 5% alcoholic extract.
Action plan required
The food business operator has been directed to submit an action plan to rectify the continued malpractice of selling substandard compounded hing or asafoetida. It must also ensure that products sold as licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, meet the required standard.
The notice states that further action may be initiated under the Act, Rules and Regulations if no satisfactory explanation or compliance is provided. The material does not provide details of the separate findings or restrictions associated with the Prohibition Order against M/s Laljee Godhoo and Company.
