The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has restricted Everest Food Products and Lalaji Godhoo and Company from selling compounded hing (asafoetida) after samples of their products were found to be in violation of quality norms.
The food regulator announced the prohibition on social media, stating that the restrictions would come into effect with immediate effect.
According to FSSAI, samples of Everest Foods’ “Compounded Asafoetida (Hing Powder)” were found to be “Misbranded and Sub-standard.”
As per officials, the products were found to be in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. Testing showed that the alcohol-soluble extract content was zero per cent, significantly below the prescribed minimum requirement of 5 per cent.
The samples of Yellow Hing Powder (Compounded Asafoetida) and Black Hing Powder (Compounded Asafoetida) were also found to be substandard, with the alcoholic extract content reported at 3.29 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively.
For Lalaji Godhoo, the food regulator said the company has been barred from selling its hing powder after samples were found to be substandard and not meeting the criteria laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act and regulations.
FSSAI further noted that the compounded hing samples were misbranded and substandard due to the presence of excess starch.
Under the prescribed standards, starch is not supposed to exceed more than 1 per cent by weight.
The food regulator has directed Lalaji Godhoo and Company to submit a corrective action plan detailing the steps it will take to address the violations and ensure that only products meeting the FSS Act standards are manufactured and stored.