New Delhi. Asafoetida samples of the country's well-known food products company Everest failed the quality test, after which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned its sale with immediate effect till further orders. The FSSAI team had collected samples of asafoetida from Everest Company's unit located in Mumbai and Umbergaon, Gujarat. In the lab test, the samples were not found to be as per the prescribed standards. FSSAI has also found flaws in Everest's Garam Masala, Chicken Masala and Egg Curry Masala. Apart from Everest, Lalji Godhu & Company's Asafoetida was also found to be of poor quality, after which its sale has also been banned.
According to FSSAI, alcohol soluble extract was found to be defective in Everest Asafoetida samples. According to the rules, the amount of alcohol soluble extract in compounded asafoetida should be at least 5 percent, but in one sample it was 0 percent. Whereas in a sample of yellow asafoetida the quantity of alcohol soluble extract was found to be 3.29 percent and in black asafoetida its quantity was found to be 4.4 percent. In this way, the quantity in every sample was found to be below the prescribed standard of 5 percent.
Taking this seriously, FSSAI took action and has also sought answers from both the companies in this regard. Actually, to make compounded asafoetida, gum, flour, starch etc. are mixed with real asafoetida and alcohol soluble extract shows how much real asafoetida is present in it. FSSAI has sought clarification from Everest and Lalji Godhu & Company on how they will correct their mistake. Along with this, companies have been asked to recall poor quality asafoetida from the market themselves. If FSSAI is not satisfied with the company's response, further action may be taken.