The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited the sale of compounded hing, or asafoetida, manufactured by Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo and Company after laboratory tests found samples to be substandard and, in some cases, misbranded. The action was taken following a consumer complaint that triggered market surveillance covering major brands, followed by legal sampling from the companies’ manufacturing units.
The regulator said Everest’s compounded asafoetida samples failed the prescribed standard for alcohol-soluble extract, with one sample recording 0% against a mandatory minimum of 5%. Yellow Hing Powder and Black Hing Powder from Everest recorded 3.29% and 4.4%, respectively. At Laljee Godhoo, six varieties of raw hing were found to contain 15-32% starch, far above the permitted maximum of 1%. Both companies have been ordered to submit corrective action plans and advised to voluntarily recall substandard products already in the market.
FSSAI Prohibits Sale Of Everest And Laljee Godhoo Hing
FSSAI has issued Prohibition of Sale orders against Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd and Laljee Godhoo and Company over quality violations involving compounded hing.
The prohibition applies with immediate effect, with the regulator saying the action is intended to protect consumers and ensure compliance with India’s food-safety standards.
The decision followed laboratory testing of samples collected during market surveillance and inspections at the companies’ licensed manufacturing facilities.
FSSAI Hing Action At A Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulator | FSSAI |
| Products affected | Compounded Hing / Asafoetida |
| Companies | Everest Food Products; Laljee Godhoo and Company |
| Action | Prohibition of Sale |
| Effective | Immediate, until further orders |
| Trigger | Consumer complaint and market surveillance |
| Everest finding | Misbranded and substandard |
| Laljee Godhoo finding | Substandard, including raw hing issues |
| Key parameter | Alcohol-soluble extract |
| Compounded hing minimum | 5% alcohol-soluble extract |
| Raw hing starch limit | Maximum 1% |
| Corrective action | Action plan and voluntary recall advice |
The regulator said multiple batches were found to be non-compliant, prompting the enforcement action.
What Did FSSAI Find In Everest Hing?
The most serious findings against Everest concerned the alcohol-soluble extract in its compounded asafoetida products.
Under the applicable food regulations, compounded hing must contain enough raw hing to provide at least 5% alcohol-soluble extract in the finished product.
FSSAI’s testing found one Everest sample with an alcohol-soluble extract level of 0%.
Two other variants also failed the prescribed threshold.
Everest Hing Test Results
| Everest Product | Alcohol-Soluble Extract Found | Required Minimum | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded Asafoetida sample | 0% | 5% | Substandard |
| Yellow Hing Powder | 3.29% | 5% | Substandard |
| Black Hing Powder | 4.4% | 5% | Substandard |
FSSAI said the samples were found to be “misbranded and sub-standard” by the primary food laboratory.
The regulator also said surveillance samples collected from different sources and locations had repeatedly shown alcohol-soluble extract below the prescribed 5% level.
Why Is Alcohol-Soluble Extract Important?
Alcohol-soluble extract is a regulatory quality parameter used to assess compounded hing.
Compounded hing is legally permitted to be made by blending raw hing with ingredients including gum arabic, starches and flours.
The regulations require sufficient raw hing in the final product to ensure that it meets the specified alcohol-soluble extract level.
Compounded Hing Standard
Raw Hing
│
├── Gum Arabic
├── Starches
└── Flours
│
▼
Compounded Hing
│
▼
Alcohol-soluble extract
│
▼
Minimum required: 5%
The FSSAI findings indicate that the tested Everest products did not meet that prescribed benchmark.
Laljee Godhoo Hing Also Failed Quality Tests
FSSAI separately prohibited Laljee Godhoo and Company’s sale of compounded hing after finding both finished products and raw materials to be substandard.
Samples of compounded hing in powder and lump forms were found not to conform to prescribed requirements.
The regulator also found problems with six varieties of raw hing used in manufacturing the finished products.
Laljee Godhoo Test Findings
| Test / Product | Finding | Regulatory Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Hing A | 15-32% starch range across six varieties | Maximum 1% |
| Raw Hing B | Included in 15-32% range | Maximum 1% |
| Raw Hing C | Included in 15-32% range | Maximum 1% |
| Raw Hing D | Included in 15-32% range | Maximum 1% |
| Raw Hing E | Included in 15-32% range | Maximum 1% |
| Raw Hing F | Included in 15-32% range | Maximum 1% |
| Compounded Hing | Substandard | Must meet prescribed requirements |
FSSAI said all six raw hing varieties sampled from the LG Brand Unit contained between 15% and 32% starch, while the permitted maximum is 1%.
Starch Levels Were Far Above The Permitted Limit
The starch finding is particularly significant because the highest reported levels were more than 30 times the permitted limit.
Under the applicable standard, starch in raw hing cannot exceed 1% by weight.
FSSAI found levels ranging from 15% to 32%.
Raw Hing Starch Comparison
Permitted maximum
1%
│
├──────────────────────
│
│ FSSAI findings
│
├────────────────────────────────────
15% 32%
At the upper end, a 32% starch finding represents 32 times the permitted maximum under the cited standard.
FSSAI classified the affected raw hing as substandard.
How Did The Investigation Begin?
The enforcement action began with a consumer complaint regarding the quality of compounded hing.
FSSAI then initiated market surveillance covering major brands.
Initial laboratory reports identified quality concerns in samples from Everest and Laljee Godhoo.
The regulator subsequently collected legal samples directly from the companies’ centrally licensed units in Mumbai.
FSSAI Investigation Process
Consumer complaint
│
▼
Market surveillance
│
▼
Initial laboratory testing
│
▼
Concerns identified
│
▼
Legal sampling at factories
│
▼
Primary laboratory testing
│
▼
Non-compliance confirmed
│
▼
Prohibition of Sale orders
FSSAI also collaborated with the Gujarat State FDA to inspect and sample Everest’s state-licensed unit in Umbergaon, Gujarat.
Everest’s Gujarat Facility Was Also Tested
The joint operation with Gujarat State FDA is significant because the regulator did not limit its investigation to a single manufacturing location.
Samples were collected from Everest’s state-licensed facility in Umbergaon, Gujarat, and tested as part of the enforcement exercise.
FSSAI said laboratory testing confirmed that the legal samples of compounded hing collected during these operations were substandard.
This contributed to the regulator’s decision to prohibit the sale of compounded asafoetida with all its variants from Everest.
FSSAI Orders Immediate Halt To Sales
The prohibition orders mean the affected companies cannot continue selling the identified compounded hing products while the orders remain in force.
The Everest action covers compounded asafoetida and its variants.
Laljee Godhoo has similarly been prohibited from selling its affected compounded hing products.
FSSAI described the measure as a preventive action aimed at safeguarding public health and consumer interests.
Regulatory Action Against The Two Companies
| Company | FSSAI Action | Main Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Everest Food Products | Sale prohibited | Misbranded and substandard compounded hing |
| Laljee Godhoo & Company | Sale prohibited | Substandard compounded and raw hing |
| Everest | Action plan required | Corrective measures |
| Laljee Godhoo | Action plan required | Corrective measures |
| Both | Voluntary recall advised | Remove substandard products |
The prohibition is not described as a permanent ban; FSSAI said the Everest sale prohibition applies until further orders.
Companies Asked To Submit Corrective Action Plans
FSSAI has directed both companies to submit comprehensive action plans explaining how they will rectify the identified problems.
The plans are expected to address the manufacturing and quality-control practices that resulted in non-compliant products.
The companies have also been advised to voluntarily recall substandard products already available in the market.
What FSSAI Wants From Manufacturers
- Correct identified quality violations
- Ensure future products meet prescribed standards
- Strengthen manufacturing controls
- Ensure licensed products comply with the FSS Act
- Submit detailed corrective action plans
- Voluntarily recall substandard products from the market
FSSAI warned that further action could follow if satisfactory compliance is not established.
Everest Faced Other Compliance Concerns
The latest action also refers to earlier regulatory compliance reviews involving some other Everest products.
FSSAI said previous reviews involving products such as Chicken Masala, Garam Masala and Egg Curry Powder had identified labeling-related non-compliances.
These included non-declaration of salt content exceeding 5% and inadequate declaration of spice content on labels.
Those findings are separate from the current hing-sale prohibition but form part of the regulatory context cited by FSSAI.
The Action Comes Amid Wider FSSAI Enforcement
The hing action comes during a broader period of increased food-safety enforcement by FSSAI.
Earlier in August, the regulator issued more than 150 notices to food and beverage companies over misleading advertisements, false claims and labeling violations.
Several companies subsequently agreed to modify labels or withdraw claims following regulatory notices.
The latest Everest and Laljee Godhoo action therefore reflects a wider regulatory focus on both product quality and consumer-facing information.
Recent FSSAI Enforcement Themes
| Area | Examples Of Regulatory Focus |
|---|---|
| Product quality | Substandard food products |
| Adulteration | Non-compliant ingredients |
| Labeling | Incorrect or incomplete declarations |
| Advertising | Misleading claims |
| Health claims | Unsupported statements |
| Consumer protection | Product recalls and sale prohibitions |
The hing action is more directly concerned with product-standard violations than advertising claims.
What Does This Mean For Consumers?
Consumers who have purchased affected Everest or Laljee Godhoo compounded hing should pay attention to further instructions from the companies and FSSAI regarding product identification and recalls.
The regulator has advised the manufacturers to voluntarily recall substandard products already available in the market.
The current order concerns compounded hing products, rather than automatically covering every product manufactured by either company.
That distinction is important.
Products Specifically Affected
FSSAI action
│
├── Everest
│ └── Compounded Asafoetida / Hing
│ ├── Standard variant
│ ├── Yellow Hing Powder
│ └── Black Hing Powder
│
└── Laljee Godhoo
├── Compounded Hing Powder
├── Compounded Hing Lump
└── Raw Hing used in production
Consumers should therefore not interpret the order as a blanket prohibition on every Everest or Laljee Godhoo food product.
Why Hing Quality Standards Matter
Hing is used in relatively small quantities in cooking, but it is a widely consumed spice ingredient in Indian households and food businesses.
Because compounded hing is permitted to contain other ingredients, regulatory standards establish minimum quality parameters for the raw hing component and the finished product.
The rules are intended to ensure that products sold as compounded asafoetida meet the required composition and quality benchmarks.
The latest findings demonstrate why those standards are important for maintaining consistency in packaged-food products.
The Regulatory Standards Behind The Action
The FSSAI’s action refers to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
For compounded hing, the finished product must provide at least 5% alcohol-soluble extract.
For raw hing, FSSAI’s surveillance found a separate issue involving starch, with the regulator citing a maximum permitted starch content of 1% by weight.
Key Quality Standards
| Parameter | Prescribed Standard | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded hing alcohol-soluble extract | Minimum 5% | Everest: 0-4.4% |
| Raw hing starch | Maximum 1% | LG: 15-32% |
| Raw hing alcohol-soluble extract | Minimum 12% | Standard cited by FSSAI |
| Everest Yellow Hing | — | 3.29% extract |
| Everest Black Hing | — | 4.4% extract |
The laboratory findings were therefore materially outside the cited limits in several samples.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is for both companies to respond to FSSAI with their corrective action plans.
The regulator will then assess whether the companies have adequately addressed the identified violations.
The manufacturers may also need to undertake recalls of products already distributed in the market.
Further regulatory action remains possible if FSSAI determines that compliance has not been satisfactorily achieved.
Key Developments To Watch
| Development | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Corrective action plans | Determines response to violations |
| Product recalls | Removes affected products |
| Further testing | Establishes compliance |
| FSSAI review | Could determine lifting of restrictions |
| Company response | May clarify corrective measures |
| Additional enforcement | Possible if violations continue |
The Bigger Picture
FSSAI’s action against Everest Food Products and Laljee Godhoo and Company highlights the importance of composition and labeling standards in India’s packaged-spice industry. The regulator’s testing found Everest compounded hing samples with alcohol-soluble extract levels of 0-4.4%, below the prescribed 5% minimum, while six raw hing varieties sampled from Laljee Godhoo’s Mumbai unit contained 15-32% starch against a maximum permitted level of 1%.
The enforcement action also demonstrates the process through which food-safety complaints can lead to wider market surveillance and factory-level sampling. FSSAI began its investigation after a consumer complaint, expanded surveillance across major brands and then conducted legal sampling at the affected manufacturing units. Both companies have now been asked to submit corrective action plans and have been advised to voluntarily recall substandard products already in the market.
Looking Ahead
The immediate focus will be on the corrective measures submitted by Everest and Laljee Godhoo and whether the companies can demonstrate that future compounded hing products comply with FSSAI standards. The manufacturers may also need to identify and recall affected products already distributed through retail channels. FSSAI has indicated that additional action could follow if satisfactory compliance is not established.
For consumers, the most important distinction is that the current prohibition concerns the affected compounded hing products and does not automatically constitute a ban on every product sold by either company. The case could nevertheless increase scrutiny of packaged spices and raw materials across the sector, particularly where regulators find repeated deviations from prescribed composition, quality or labeling standards.
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