The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday, in a striking development, has cracked down on Everest Food and Laljee Godhoo & Company after samples of their compounded Hing (Asafoetida) products were found to be allegedly sub-standard and misbranded.

The food safety regulator has tightened the reins on the sale of compounded asafoetida and all its variants with immediate effect until further orders, citing numerous discrepancies detected in samples collected from the companies.

Serious compliance lapses come to the fore

As per the FSSAI, samples of compounded asafoetida (hing powder) were found to be ‘misbranded and sub-standard’ by the Food Analyst at the primary food laboratory.

Following this, the regulator said the products failed to adhere to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Moreover, the Alcohol Soluble Extract in the samples was recorded at 0.00% against the prescribed standard of not less than 5%.

Furthermore, the body found that samples of Yellow Hing powder and Black Hing powder were sub-standard, with alcoholic extract levels of 3.29% and 4.4% respectively. According to the regulator, the samples were non-compliant in terms of alcoholic extract. It also flagged the non-declaration of salt content exceeding 5% and the failure to mention spice content on the labels of Chicken Masala, Garam Masala and Egg Curry powder.

The irregularities went up a notch, as the FSSAI further pointed to what it called ‘inconsistent non compliance’ in asafoetida collected from various sources, with the products repeatedly found to be possessing less than the prescribed 5% alcoholic extract.

The regular issued a statement, which read, “In view of the above contraventions, the sale of articles in question, i.e. ‘Compounded Asafoetida’ with all its variants, is hereby prohibited with immediate effect till further orders.”

Everest Food directed to submit action plan

After the inference, the FSSAI directed Everest Food to submit an action plan for the ‘rectification of the continued malpractice of selling sub-standard’Compounded Hing.’ The company has also been asked to ensure that only products fulfilling the required standards and licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, are sold. The FSSAI warned that failure to provide a cogent explanation or comply with its directives could lead to further action under the Act, Rules and Regulations.

Ban also imposed on Hing powder manufactured by Laljee Godhoo

The food safety regulator also resorted to action against Laljee Godhoo & Company after samples of Hing used in the manufacture of compounded Hing were found to be below the prescribed standards. It said Raw Hing varieties A, B, C, D, E and F contained starch in excessive quantities and therefore failed to meet the prescribed requirements under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Notably, under Regulation 2.9.29, starch content in Hing must not exceed 1% by weight.

According to the FSSAI, the non-compliances were considered pervasive across batches of compounded hing. Consequently, Laljee Godhoo & Company has also been prohibited from making further sales of its compounded hing products.