India's food safety regulator has taken decisive action against two of the country's better-known spice and food product brands. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially prohibited the sale of compounded asafoetida — commonly known as hing powder — by Everest Food Products Private Limited and Laljee Godhoo, citing repeated non-compliance with prescribed food safety standards. The move, communicated by the regulator on Saturday, sends a strong message about the tightening scrutiny of packaged spice products in India.
Taking to the social media platform X, the food safety regulator said it had issued prohibition orders against the two firms under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following surveillance and legal sampling that found compounded hing products to be sub-standard and, in some cases, misbranded or adulterated.
The action reflects a broader trend of Indian food regulators taking more direct, transparent and enforcement-driven positions on packaged food quality — particularly in categories where consumer trust hinges on brand assurance.
The Everest Findings
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's specific findings were striking. The alcohol-soluble extract in one sample was found to be 0 per cent — against the prescribed minimum standard of 5 per cent. Samples of Yellow Hing Powder and Black Hing Powder were also found to be sub-standard, with alcoholic extract levels of 3.29 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively — both falling short of the mandatory threshold.
The regulator also noted that routine surveillance found non-compliance with the prescribed alcoholic extract parameter, and previous regulatory compliance reviews of the company's products — including Chicken Masala, Garam Masala and Egg Curry Powder — had also identified labelling-related non-compliances.
FSSAI said consistent non-compliance had been observed in samples of asafoetida collected from various sources and locations, with products found to contain less than the prescribed 5 per cent alcoholic extract. On the basis of these findings, the sale of compounded asafoetida — with all its variants — by Everest Food Products has been prohibited with immediate effect until further orders.
The Laljee Godhoo Findings
The findings against Laljee Godhoo were equally serious. Samples of both compounded hing and compounded asafoetida — in powder and lump forms — were found to be sub-standard and not conforming to prescribed requirements.
Adding to the concern, the raw hing varieties used in manufacturing the compounded product were also found to be sub-standard due to excess starch. FSSAI regulations prescribe that starch content in hing should not exceed 1 per cent by weight — a threshold designed to prevent adulteration and ensure product authenticity.
The regulator said the violations were considered pervasive across batches — based on a combination of market surveillance, legal sampling and test reports of raw materials. That's a critical detail. It suggests that the non-compliance wasn't a one-off issue in a single batch, but a repeated pattern across the manufacturing chain.
What the Companies Must Do Now
Both firms have been directed to submit action plans for rectification and ensure that only standard products are manufactured and sold. FSSAI has also made clear that further action will be initiated under the law if satisfactory compliance is not established.
That's a clean, firm framework — the regulator has taken the enforcement step, but the door for corrective action remains open, provided the companies demonstrate genuine compliance turnaround.
Why It Matters
Hing is a spice deeply woven into the Indian kitchen. It plays a critical role in daily cooking across regions and cuisines, and is particularly significant in vegetarian and Ayurvedic-influenced dietary traditions. Because of its central role in Indian cooking, the assurance of authenticity, purity and safety in packaged hing carries disproportionate consumer weight.
When two major brands are found to be selling sub-standard or misbranded hing, it isn't just a compliance issue — it is a matter of daily household trust. That's precisely why FSSAI's decisive action is likely to be received seriously by both consumers and other industry players.
Industry Impact
For India's packaged food industry, the FSSAI's action carries clear signalling weight. It reinforces that the regulator is willing to prohibit sales — not merely issue advisories — when compliance failures are found to be systemic. Companies operating in ingredient-intensive food categories will now be under sharper pressure to strengthen internal quality control, raw material sourcing, batch-level testing and labelling accuracy.
Retailers, distributors and e-commerce platforms will also need to update their supply chains quickly to reflect the sales prohibition, particularly for the affected variants.
Consumer Impact
For consumers, the action is a reminder to actively read labels, verify brand reputations, and stay informed about food safety updates. FSSAI's regular publication of enforcement actions is helping shift Indian consumer behaviour toward more informed decision-making — moving away from purely brand-driven purchases and toward compliance-verified consumption.
The Bigger Picture
The prohibition orders against Everest and Laljee Godhoo mark another important moment in India's evolving food safety story. Increasingly, the regulator is asserting that no brand — regardless of market position or legacy — is exempt from compliance standards. Every gram of packaged food sold in India is expected to meet the parameters laid down for its category, and failure to do so will be met with enforcement, not accommodation.
For the two affected firms, the coming weeks will determine whether they can present credible rectification action plans and re-enter the market with compliant products. For the broader industry, the message is unmistakable — food safety in India is no longer a background compliance exercise. It is a front-line regulatory priority. And in a country where the humble pinch of hing sits at the heart of countless daily meals, that message could not have come at a more meaningful moment.
