New Delhi, August 29, 2026 – FSSAI, the government body that checks the purity of food items, has immediately banned the sale of compounded hing of Everest food products. This restriction will remain applicable on all variants of the company's Hing till further orders. FSSAI has taken this action after it failed to exceed the prescribed standards in the investigation. Similar action has also been taken against the old Hing company Lalji Godhu & Company.
What's wrong?
According to FSSAI, samples of Everesteni Asafoetida were tested in the government lab. During investigation, some samples were found misbranded and sub-standard. The biggest problem was found in alcohol soluble extract. According to the rule, this quantity should be at least 5 percent in compounded asafoetida, but in one sample this quantity was found to be 0 percent. Whereas in a sample of yellow asafoetida it was found to be 3.29 percent and in black asafoetida it was 4.4 percent. That is, all three were below the prescribed standard of 5 percent.
What is Alcohol Soluble Extract?
If we understand in simple language, the compounded hing available in the market is not completely pure hing. Flour, starch and other things are mixed in it along with real asafoetida. Alcohol soluble extract is a measure to show how much real asafoetida is present in it, that is, the lesser its quantity, the less will be considered the real asafoetida content in the product. Finding 0 percent in a sample was therefore considered a major error.
Questions were raised on Everest earlier also
According to the orders of FSSAI, complaints and deficiencies in rules have already come to light regarding some other products of Everest. The order also mentions labeling irregularities in chicken masala, garam masala and egg curry powder. FSSAI says that similar problems were found in the asafoetida samples taken from different places and the alcoholic extract was found to be less than 5 percent.
What will the company have to do now?
FSSAI has asked the company for an action plan in this matter. The company will have to ensure that the product is sold only as per the prescribed standards. If the answer is not satisfactory or the rules are not followed, further action can be taken against the company.
Everest company came into controversy in 2024 also
In 2024, questions were raised over the use of ethylene oxide in the products of some spice brands including Everest in Hong Kong and Singapore. After this, FSSAI in India also started investigation by taking samples of spices. However the present cases are different. This time the action is related to the standards of Hing and its quality.
Order against Lalji Godhu and Company also
FSSAI has also issued an immediate ban order against Lalji Godhu and Company. During investigation, samples of the company's compounded hing were not found as per the prescribed standards. Besides, more starch than the prescribed quantity was found in different varieties of raw asafoetida used in making compounded asafoetida. FSSAI said that this irregularity has come to light continuously in different batches. Therefore, the sale and manufacturing of compounded hing of the company has been banned till further orders.