FSSAI orders CG Foods India to halt production of Veg Bhujia Namkeen over hygiene violations

Food regulator FSSAI has ordered CG Foods India to stop producing Veg Bhujia Namkeen (AI-generated image used for representational purposes only)

JAIPUR: Food regulator FSSAI on Thursday said it has directed CG Foods India Pvt Ltd to stop production of 'Veg Bhujia Namkeen' after inspections found multiple violations, including hygiene-related lapses. The food safety and standards authority of india (FSSAI) said it had initiated enforcement action against CG Foods India in view of "unsafe processing, unlicensed bhujia manufacturing, and predated packaging". FSSAI conducted an inspection at the company's unit in Roopangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, to check manufacturing practices and hygiene compliance, news agency PTI reported. "The unit was found re-processing floor-collected, broken noodles into bhujia products without heat treatment, along with using predated packaging dates. Unlicensed manufacturing of 'Wai-Wai MaMa' and 'Wai-Wai Mama Punte' bhujia variants was identified in direct violation of Section 31(1) of the FSS Act, 2006," FSSAI said. The regulator seized 32,107.2 kg of stock at the premises, including loose broken noodles. "The inspection revealed several hygiene and documentation deficiencies, including inadequate pest-control records and other deficiencies relating to food hygiene and safety," FSSAI said. Samples were collected for laboratory analysis, while 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods were detained, PTI reported. FSSAI also initiated strict legal proceedings against the company. The regulator directed the company to "discontinue the production of the Veg Bhujia Namkeen products without proper approvals and measures". FSSAI warned that further regulatory action would follow based on the laboratory analysis and inspection findings. (With agency inputs)