FSSAI Prohibits Sale of Everest and Laljee Godhoo Hing Powder Due to Sub-standard Quality

In the case of Everest, FSSAI has prohibited the sale of compounded (hing powder) variants with immediate effect.

NEW DELHI: Food regulator FSSAI on Saturday said it has prohibited Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd and Laljee Godhoo and Company from selling hing powder after finding the products to be sub-standard. In a social media post, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it had issued prohibition orders against Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo and Company after their hing powder products were found to be sub-standard, according to news agency PTI. In the case of Everest, FSSAI has prohibited the sale of variants of compounded asafoetida (hing powder) with immediate effect.

"The samples of Compounded Asafoetida (Hing Powder) were found to be 'Misbranded and Sub-standard' by the Food Analyst of the primary food laboratory," the regulator said. The products were found to be in contravention of the provisions of the FSS (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, as the alcohol-soluble extract was 0 per cent against the prescribed standard of not less than 5 per cent.

"The samples of Yellow Hing Powder (Compounded Asafoetida) and Black Hing Powder (Compounded Asafoetida) were also found to be Sub-standard, with Alcoholic Extract reported at 3.29 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively," it added as PTI reported. The regulator has asked the company to submit an action plan to rectify the continued malpractice of selling substandard compounded hing/asafoetida and ensure the sale of standard products as licensed under the FSS Act, 2006. It warned of further action if the company does not rectify the mistakes.

In the case of Laljee Godhoo, FSSAI said the company had been prohibited from selling hing powder after it was found to be sub-standard and adulterated, in contravention of FSSAI regulations. "The samples of Compounded Hing / Compounded Asafoetida (Powder and Lump) were found to be sub-standard and not conforming to the prescribed requirements under the FSS (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The compounded Hing samples were also found to be misbranded and Sub-standard," it added. The samples of raw hing varieties used in the manufacture of compounded hing were found to be sub-standard due to the presence of excess starch. The starch content in hing shall not exceed 1 per cent by weight. FSSAI has asked Laljee Godhoo to submit an action plan to rectify the malpractice and outline measures to ensure that only standard products are manufactured and sold in accordance with the FSS Act.