Everest hing ban: FSSAI states ‘excessive starch, low alcohol soluble extract’ in compound asafetida | Today’s news

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued ban orders against compound hing (asafoetida) manufactured by M/s Everest Food Products Private Limited and M/s Laljee Godhoo and Company (LG Brand Unit) after laboratory tests found their products substandard, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement.

The action followed a consumer complaint about the quality of a particular brand of folding curtain. FSSAI subsequently conducted market surveillance on the major brands of the product.

Legal samples were collected from centrally licensed facilities of Everest and LG Brand Unit in Mumbai and sent to the primary laboratory for testing. FSSAI also collaborated with Gujarat State FDA to conduct joint inspection and sampling at Everest’s state licensed facility in Umbergaon, Gujarat.

The primary laboratory found that all the legal samples of folded drape collected during the operations were substandard, FSSAI said.

What did the tests find?

Compounded hing is an approved food category under the Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations 2011. It is made by mixing raw hing with ingredients such as gum arabic, starches and flours.

By regulation, the compound hinge must contain enough crude hinge to ensure at least 5% alcohol-soluble extract in the final product.

However, according to the FSSAI, the tested samples contained only 0-3% alcohol-soluble extract, well below the prescribed minimum.

The regulator said the findings indicated manufacturers were adding 30-40% less raw curtain than required for the products tested.

FSSAI also tested six varieties of raw hing at the LG Brand Unit in Mumbai. While the maximum permitted starch content of raw hingo is 1%, laboratory tests found starch levels ranging from 15% to 32% in all six varieties.

Raw hing must also contain a minimum of 12% alcohol-soluble extract according to applicable standards.

FSSAI orders action

Following findings from several batches, FSSAI issued a no-sale order against the Everest unit in Mumbai and the LG brand unit in Mumbai.

The regulator described the action as a preventive measure aimed at protecting consumers and public health.

Both food business operators were also asked to submit a comprehensive action plan explaining how they will address the violations found and ensure that the folded hinge they produce meets the prescribed standards.

FSSAI further advised manufacturers to initiate voluntary recall of substandard products currently available in the market.