In New Delhi, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has taken strict regulatory action by halting the sale of asafoetida powder manufactured by Everest Food Products Private Limited and Laljee Godhu and Company. This decision follows rigorous quality inspections that revealed serious deficiencies and non compliance in their products, prompting immediate corrective measures from the food safety watchdog.
Laboratory Findings and Regulatory Breaches
According to the regulatory authority, food analysts at the primary food laboratory discovered that the tested samples of mixed asafoetida powder failed to meet the established quality benchmarks. Furthermore, the products were found to be heavily misbranded. These items violated the provisions outlined under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. Notably, the alcohol soluble matter in the tested samples stood at zero, whereas the prescribed regulatory minimum standard is at least 5 percent.
Specific Shortcomings in Varieties
The regulatory body elaborated that both yellow and black asafoetida powder samples fell drastically short of expected purity levels. The alcohol soluble extracts in these variants were recorded at a meager 3.29 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. Additionally, inspections revealed that the raw asafoetida varieties utilized in producing the mixed powder and pieces contained an excessively high proportion of starch. The regulator has issued stern warnings indicating that failure to rectify these violations will attract further legal actions.
Scrutiny Extends to Spice Mixtures
Apart from the asafoetida restrictions, the food regulator has also expanded its investigation into various spice blends produced by Everest. Subsequent inspections uncovered multiple irregularities in the company’s popular products, including garam masala, chicken masala, and egg curry masala. Due to these persistent quality concerns regarding the spice formulations, a formal notice has also been served to the company, signaling heightened oversight across packaged food manufacturing.
