The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed CG Foods India, the maker of the popular Wai Wai noodles, to halt the production of its 'veg bhujia namkeen' after an inspection at the company's facility in Roopangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, uncovered multiple violations, including hygiene-related issues.

The food regulator said that enforcement action has been initiated against the company over "unsafe processing, unlicensed bhujia manufacturing, and predated packaging".

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Broken Noodles On Floor Reprocessed Into Bhujia

The authority conducted the inspection at the CG Foods India Pvt Ltd unit to evaluate its manufacturing practices and compliance with hygiene standards. However, the inspection revealed that the facility was collecting broken noodles from the floor and reprocessing them into bhujia products. The regulator noted that this material was being used without any heat treatment and that the packaging carried predated dates.

"The unit was found re-processing floor-collected, broken noodles into bhujia products without heat treatment, along with using predated packaging dates. Unlicensed manufacturing of ‘Wai-Wai MaMa’ and ‘Wai-Wai Mama Punte’ bhujia variants was identified in direct violation of Section 31(1) of the FSS Act, 2006," FSSAI said.

Over 32,000 Kg Of Stock Seized

During the inspection, officials seized 32,107.2 kg of stock from the premises, including loose, broken floor noodles. The authority also uncovered several shortcomings related to hygiene and documentation at the facility.

"The inspection revealed several hygiene and documentation deficiencies, including inadequate pest-control records and other deficiencies relating to food hygiene and safety," FSSAI said.

All samples collected from the unit have been sent for laboratory analysis.

1,925 Boxes Of Expired Goods Detained

The regulator detained 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods and initiated legal proceedings against the company. Consequently, the FSSAI instructed the company to "discontinue the production of the Veg Bhujia Namkeen products without proper approvals and measures."

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Authorities confirmed that further regulatory action could follow based on the laboratory analysis of the seized samples and the findings from the inspection.

(With Inputs From PTI)