FSSAI bars Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo from selling hing powder
FSSAI has prohibited the two companies from selling hing powder after tests found products below prescribed alcohol-soluble extract standards and, in Laljee Godhoo’s case, excess starch in raw hing. Both firms must submit corrective-action plans.
What happened
Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd · FSSAI prohibited Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo from selling substandard hing powder. Everest samples were misbranded
Key facts
- 0% alcohol soluble extract found in Everest samples versus minimum prescribed 5%
- 3.29% alcoholic extract in Yellow Hing Powder
- 4.4% alcoholic extract in Black Hing Powder
- Raw hing starch content must not exceed 1% by weight
- FSS Act, 2006
- FSS (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011
Why this matters
The enforcement action raises food-safety diligence requirements for any investment or partnership involving the affected brands, while potentially opening share opportunities for compliant spice suppliers.
What to watch
- FSSAI publication of batch numbers, duration of the prohibition, and conditions for reinstatement.
- Timing and acceptance of each company's corrective-action plan and follow-up laboratory results.
- Retailer and e-commerce delisting activity, price changes, and out-of-stock rates for Everest and Laljee Godhoo hing SKUs.
- Whether FSSAI initiates wider hing-category sampling, notices, recalls, or penalties against other manufacturers.
- Competitor promotional activity, shelf-space gains, and private-label launches in hing powder.
- Immediately stop sale, dispatch, and online fulfillment of impacted hing powder batches; quarantine distributor and retailer inventory.
- Submit corrective-action plans with batch traceability, revised raw-material specifications, supplier audits, and independent laboratory test results.
- Notify trade partners of affected SKUs and expected remediation timelines to limit unauthorized sell-through and retailer penalties.
- Accelerate replacement listings and promotional support for compliant hing alternatives, especially in high-turnover grocery and festive-demand markets.
- Review all spice and asafoetida-adjacent products for alcohol-soluble extract and starch compliance before regulators or retailers request documentation.