India’s food safety regulator has prohibited the sale of asafoetida products from Laljee Godhoo & Co. and Everest, citing violations related to product standards and labelling.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned the sale of certain compounded asafoetida products sold by Laljee Godhoo & Co. and Everest, after the products were found to be “misbranded and sub-standard.”
The action puts two prominent names in India’s packaged spices and condiments market under regulatory scrutiny and comes as authorities step up enforcement against food products that fail to meet prescribed safety, quality and labelling requirements.
The regulator’s order covers specified asafoetida products manufactured or marketed by the two companies. The products were found to be non-compliant with applicable food safety standards, prompting authorities to prohibit their sale.
Compounded asafoetida, commonly known as hing, is widely used in Indian cooking and is sold in both household and commercial markets. Unlike pure asafoetida resin, compounded hing typically contains other permitted ingredients and is required to meet regulatory specifications governing its composition and labelling.
The FSSAI action highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by packaged food and spice manufacturers over the accuracy of product claims and compliance with established standards.
For major brands, such regulatory interventions can carry implications beyond immediate sales restrictions, including reputational risks and greater scrutiny of manufacturing, sourcing and quality-control processes.
The development comes at a time when India’s food regulator is intensifying inspections and enforcement across the packaged food sector, with companies increasingly facing action over alleged violations involving product quality, labelling and consumer disclosures.
The FSSAI’s latest move underscores the regulator’s broader push to ensure that food products sold in the Indian market comply with prescribed standards and that consumers receive products that accurately meet their declared specifications.