Nepal Bans Priyagold Biscuits After FSSAI Flags Cattle-Feed Bran

Nepal has banned the import, sale and distribution of Priyagold biscuits manufactured by India’s Surya Food and Agro Ltd after serious food-safety concerns were raised by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The action follows an inspection that reportedly found the use of bran intended for cattle feed as an ingredient in biscuits meant for human consumption, along with deficiencies in hygiene and manufacturing practices.

Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) classified the products as substandard and directed traders to stop selling them and recall existing stocks. In India, FSSAI has suspended Surya Food and Agro’s food licence and approved prosecution proceedings over the alleged violations. The case has drawn attention to the importance of ingredient traceability, manufacturing hygiene and regulatory compliance in the packaged-food industry. The allegations are subject to legal proceedings and should not be treated as a final finding of criminal liability.

Key Takeaways

• Nepal’s ban: Import, sale and distribution of Priyagold biscuits manufactured by Surya Food and Agro have been prohibited.
• Main issue: FSSAI alleges that bran meant for cattle feed was used in biscuit manufacturing.
• Additional concerns: Inspectors reported deficiencies in plant hygiene, pest control, raw-material storage and staff hygiene.
• Action in India: FSSAI suspended the manufacturer’s food licence and approved prosecution proceedings.
• Recall direction: Nepal’s food regulator has asked traders to stop sales and withdraw available stocks.
• Health claims: The reported findings do not establish that the biscuits caused illnesses.
• Legal status: Approval to prosecute is not the same as a conviction.

Why Has Nepal Banned Priyagold Biscuits?

Nepal’s decision followed food-safety action taken by Indian authorities against Surya Food and Agro Ltd, the company associated with Priyagold biscuits.

On October 19, 2026, Nepal’s DFTQC issued a notice prohibiting the import, sale and distribution of the affected products. The department cited the food-safety notice issued by FSSAI in India and said the decision was intended to protect public health and consumer welfare.

The restriction was approved following an emergency virtual meeting convened at the initiative of DFTQC Director General Sanjeev Kumar Karna. Nepal’s authorities also instructed relevant agencies, importers and traders to prevent further sales and distribution.

The decision effectively extends the consequences of India’s regulatory action across the border. Priyagold biscuits manufactured by the company can no longer be legally imported or sold in Nepal under the announced restriction.

Nepal’s action is based on the concerns identified by Indian authorities. The available reporting does not describe a separate Nepalese laboratory investigation establishing additional findings about the products.

What Is the Main Issue in the Priyagold Biscuits Case?

The central allegation is that Surya Food and Agro used bran intended for cattle feed as a source of fibre in biscuits manufactured for human consumption.

Bran is the outer layer of cereal grains separated during milling. Depending on its source, processing and quality, bran can be used in different food and feed applications. Some forms of bran are suitable for human food when they meet applicable food standards.

The issue in this case is not that all bran is unsafe for people. It is the alleged use of material specifically designated for cattle feed in a product intended for human consumption.

According to the reported inspection findings, the bags containing the bran were marked as being intended for cattle feed. That raised questions about whether the raw material was suitable for use in biscuits and whether the manufacturer complied with applicable food-safety requirements.

Ingredients intended for animal feed may have different specifications, handling requirements and controls from ingredients approved for human food. Their suitability cannot be established simply because they contain a component, such as fibre, that is also used in food products.

The reported findings have therefore focused on ingredient selection, traceability and compliance with food-manufacturing standards.

Why ingredient traceability matters

Food manufacturers must be able to identify the source and intended use of their raw materials. This helps ensure that ingredients meet the required specifications before they enter the production process.

Traceability also allows companies and regulators to identify potentially affected batches if a problem is discovered. Without reliable controls, it becomes more difficult to determine which products contain a particular ingredient and whether a recall is necessary.

In a packaged-food business, the issue extends beyond the final recipe. Suppliers, storage facilities, quality-control teams and production workers all play a role in maintaining the integrity of ingredients.

The Priyagold case highlights why manufacturers need clear procedures for receiving, inspecting, storing and approving raw materials before production begins.

What Other Food-Safety Violations Did FSSAI Report?

The alleged use of cattle-feed bran was not the only concern identified during the inspection of Surya Food and Agro’s manufacturing facility.

Reports of FSSAI’s findings cited deficiencies across several areas of food safety and hygiene.

Area	Reported concern
Raw materials	Alleged use of bran marked for cattle feed
Plant hygiene	Deficiencies in maintaining cleanliness
Pest control	Reported lapses in pest-management practices
Storage	Problems involving raw-material storage and segregation
Staff hygiene	Non-compliance with personnel hygiene requirements
Premises maintenance	Shortcomings in maintaining the facility
Production handling	Deficiencies involving intermediate formulations

These findings matter because food safety depends on a system of controls rather than a single ingredient check.

For example, inadequate pest control can create opportunities for contamination. Poor storage and segregation can increase the risk of ingredients being mixed up or exposed to unsuitable conditions. Inadequate staff hygiene can also undermine otherwise sound production procedures.

However, the existence of reported deficiencies does not establish that every biscuit produced at the facility was contaminated or that consumers experienced a particular health outcome. The available reports do not specify the quantity of affected products, the number of batches involved or any illnesses directly linked to the biscuits.

The regulatory concern is that the reported conditions were serious enough to trigger formal action.

What Action Has FSSAI Taken Against Surya Food and Agro?

FSSAI has suspended Surya Food and Agro’s food licence following the inspection findings. The regulator has also received authorisation to initiate prosecution proceedings against the company over the alleged violations.

The suspension is a significant regulatory step because a food business must comply with licensing and safety requirements to manufacture and sell products covered by the relevant licence.

Prosecution proceedings represent a separate stage in the enforcement process. They allow the alleged violations to be considered through the applicable legal framework, but the decision to pursue prosecution does not itself establish guilt.

The case also forms part of wider food-safety enforcement activity involving other manufacturers. FSSAI has reported legal action against companies in different food categories over alleged non-compliance, reinforcing the importance of following established manufacturing and quality-control standards.

As of the reports published on October 20, 2026, Surya Food and Agro had not publicly responded to the case in the cited coverage. Further developments will depend on the legal proceedings and any subsequent regulatory decisions.

How Does Nepal’s Ban Affect Traders and Consumers?

Nepal’s restriction covers the import, sale and distribution of the affected Priyagold biscuits. The DFTQC has asked authorised importers and food traders to recall stocks already available in the market.

For importers, this means stopping new orders and ensuring that existing stock is withdrawn in accordance with the regulator’s instructions. Retailers and distributors must also prevent further sales of the affected products.

Consumers in Nepal should follow official recall instructions and avoid buying or consuming the affected biscuits while the restriction remains in force. Anyone who already has the product can contact the retailer or relevant food-safety authority for guidance on returning it.

The reports do not identify every product variant, batch number or package size covered by the action. Consumers and traders should therefore consult the official notice for the precise scope of the restriction rather than assume that an unverified product label or batch is exempt.

The ban may also affect the manufacturer’s cross-border business. Nepal is a market for Indian consumer goods, and regulatory action in one country can influence distributors’ willingness to stock a product in another. However, the scale of any financial impact on Priyagold has not been quantified in the available reporting.

What Does the Case Mean for India’s Packaged-Food Industry?

The Priyagold case illustrates the commercial importance of maintaining food-safety controls throughout the manufacturing process.

Packaged-food companies often depend on large supply chains involving agricultural producers, commodity traders, ingredient processors, transporters and warehouses. Each stage creates potential risks if materials are incorrectly labelled, stored or approved for use.

Manufacturers need systems that verify ingredients against product specifications and prevent unsuitable materials from entering production. Supplier audits, incoming-material checks, segregation procedures, hygiene monitoring and documented quality controls can help reduce the risk of violations.

The case also demonstrates how regulatory action can cross national borders. Nepal’s authorities relied on findings reported by India’s food regulator when deciding to prohibit the biscuits. This can create consequences for manufacturers beyond their domestic market, especially when products are exported to neighbouring countries.

For companies selling food across borders, compliance is not simply a domestic licensing issue. They must also consider import requirements, local food standards, documentation and recall procedures in each destination market.

The financial implications can extend beyond a temporary halt in sales. A regulatory action may require stock withdrawal, distribution changes, additional testing and communication with retailers. Companies may also face reputational pressure as consumers reconsider the safety and quality of familiar products.

The actual commercial impact on Surya Food and Agro, however, will depend on the scope of the affected products, the duration of the restrictions and the outcome of the proceedings.

The Bigger Picture

Nepal’s Priyagold biscuit ban centres on a basic food-safety principle: ingredients intended for human consumption must meet the applicable standards and be handled through controlled manufacturing processes. The alleged use of cattle-feed bran, alongside reported hygiene and storage deficiencies, prompted regulatory action in India and a sales restriction in Nepal.

The case also highlights the difference between a regulatory allegation and a proven legal finding. FSSAI has suspended the licence and approved prosecution proceedings, while Nepal has prohibited imports and sales to protect consumers. The final legal outcome and the precise scope of affected products remain important unresolved questions.

Looking Ahead

The next developments will depend on the regulatory and legal process involving Surya Food and Agro, including any response from the company and further directions issued by FSSAI. In Nepal, traders have been instructed to stop selling the affected products and recall available stocks. Importers and consumers should rely on official notices for details about the products covered by the ban.

For the broader food industry, the case is a reminder that ingredient traceability, proper storage, staff hygiene and supplier controls are essential to protectin