What Exactly Is Being Recalled?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed Everest Food Products to recall a single batch of its pre-packed cumin powder. The recall is highly specific and applies only to Everest's pre-packed Cumin Powder with the Batch Number
E080668761. This action does not affect any other Everest products or other batches of their cumin powder. The issue was identified after a regulatory sample was collected from a resort in Goa and subsequently tested. The recall notice is a targeted safety measure concerning only this particular batch, confirming that it is not a blanket recall of all cumin from the popular brand.
The Reason Behind the Recall
The recall was initiated after laboratory tests found pesticide residues above the maximum permissible limits, declaring the sample 'unsafe' for consumption under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Specifically, the tests detected two pesticides: Azoxystrobin, a fungicide used to protect crops from fungal diseases, and Thiamethoxam, an insecticide. While these are used in agriculture, their residue levels in the tested batch exceeded the legal safety threshold set by Indian regulators. Everest was given an opportunity to appeal the initial findings, but a second test at a Referral Food Laboratory confirmed the results, leading to the immediate recall order.
How to Check Your Spice Pack
If you have Everest Cumin Powder in your kitchen, you should check the batch number printed on the packaging. The only affected batch is E080668761. Look for this specific number on the packet. If your packet does not have this number, it is not part of the current recall. Consumers are advised not to use the product from the implicated batch. Experts note that finding residues above the limit does not automatically mean a person will get sick from accidental consumption, as the risk depends on quantity and frequency of exposure. However, following the official recall advice is the most prudent course of action.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you find that you own a pack of Everest Cumin Powder from Batch No. E080668761, the advice from food safety authorities is clear: do not consume it. Consumers should dispose of the product. The FSSAI has directed Everest to not only recall the entire batch from the market but also to maintain complete records of the recalled products and report on the progress. The company has also been instructed to implement corrective measures to prevent such an incident from happening again. This recall is part of a broader effort by the FSSAI to step up enforcement and ensure food businesses comply with safety standards to protect consumer health across the country.
