New Delhi, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited Everest Food Products Private Limited and Laljee Godhoo from selling compounded asafoetida, commonly known as hing powder, citing alleged non-compliance with prescribed food safety standards.
The food safety regulator said on Saturday that prohibition orders had been issued against both companies under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following surveillance and legal sampling that found certain compounded hing products to be sub-standard and, in some cases, misbranded or adulterated.
In the case of Everest Food Products, samples of compounded asafoetida and its variants were found to be misbranded and sub-standard by the Food Analyst of the primary food laboratory. FSSAI said one sample recorded an alcohol-soluble extract of zero per cent, against the prescribed minimum of 5 per cent.
Samples of Yellow Hing Powder and Black Hing Powder were also found to be below the prescribed standard, with alcoholic extract levels of 3.29 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively.
According to FSSAI, routine surveillance had also detected non-compliance with the prescribed alcoholic extract parameter. The regulator said previous compliance reviews involving Everest products, including Chicken Masala, Garam Masala and Egg Curry Powder, had identified labelling-related non-compliances.
FSSAI said samples of compounded asafoetida collected from different sources and locations had repeatedly shown alcoholic extract levels below the prescribed 5 per cent.
Consequently, the sale of compounded asafoetida and all its variants manufactured by Everest Food Products has been prohibited with immediate effect until further orders.
Laljee Godhoo Products Also Found Sub-Standard
In the case of Laljee Godhoo, samples of compounded hing and compounded asafoetida in both powder and lump forms were found to be sub-standard and not compliant with prescribed requirements.
The raw hing varieties used in manufacturing the compounded products were also found to be sub-standard because of excessive starch content. FSSAI regulations prescribe that starch in hing must not exceed 1 per cent by weight.
The regulator said market surveillance, legal sampling and test reports of raw materials indicated that the violations were pervasive across batches.
Both companies have been directed to submit corrective action plans and ensure that only products meeting prescribed standards are manufactured and sold.
FSSAI said further action would be taken under the law if satisfactory compliance is not established.
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