The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered the immediate recall of two food products after laboratory testing found them unsafe and non-compliant with prescribed food safety standards. The products under the regulator’s action are Shalimar’s Chef Coriander Powder, manufactured by Nilgiri Oil & Allied Industries, and Carrageenan, manufactured by Aquagri Processing Pvt Ltd. The action puts the spotlight on two very different ingredients that can find their way into everyday food products. While coriander powder is a familiar kitchen staple, carrageenan is generally used as a food ingredient for its thickening and stabilising properties. According to the recall order, a regulatory sample of Shalimar’s Chef Coriander Powder was collected from the premises of Nilgiri Oil & Allied Industries and sent for laboratory analysis. The sample was found to be unsatisfactory with respect to pesticide residues and failed to meet the prescribed standards under food safety regulations. The Food Analyst subsequently classified the sample as “unsafe” under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The matter did not end with the initial laboratory finding. The company exercised its right to appeal, after which another portion of the sample was sent for retesting. The second examination again found the product non-compliant in relation to pesticide residues and upheld its classification as unsafe. That repeat finding ultimately paved the way for the recall order. A separate regulatory action was taken against Aquagri Processing Pvt Ltd over its Carrageenan product. The sample collected by FSSAI was found to be non-compliant with the prescribed specifications, with reports specifically identifying concerns relating to cadmium. The Food Analyst classified the sample as unsafe. Aquagri also appealed the initial finding. The sample was subsequently examined by a Referral Food Laboratory, which confirmed the safety concern and classified the product as unsafe. With both laboratory assessments pointing towards non-compliance, FSSAI directed the company to withdraw the affected product from the market. The recall orders require the concerned food business operators to take immediate steps to remove the implicated products from the market and follow the procedures laid down under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2017. FSSAI’s recall framework is designed to ensure that food identified as unsafe or non-compliant is removed from the food chain and that appropriate information and corrective action follow. The latest action also comes as food safety authorities continue to increase scrutiny of food businesses and products. For consumers, such recalls underline why regulatory testing matters, particularly for products that may appear routine or harmless on supermarket shelves. For now, the two products specifically named in the recall orders are Shalimar’s Chef Coriander Powder and Carrageenan manufactured by Aquagri Processing Pvt Ltd. Consumers who have either product at home should check the product details and recall information before using it, particularly if it corresponds to the product covered by the regulator’s action. Simran covers books that start conversations, beauty insights, fashion moods, and stories that make people feel something. Off duty? You’ll find her c... View More