The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered Everest Food Products Pvt Ltd to immediately recall a specific batch of its pre-packed cumin powder after laboratory tests found pesticide residues above the prescribed limits. The affected product is Batch No. E080668761. A regulatory sample collected from Riverside Resorts & Holiday Homes Pvt Ltd in Goa was found to contain residues of Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam, following which a Food Analyst declared it “UNSAFE” under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Everest was given an opportunity to appeal, but a Referral Food Laboratory subsequently confirmed the findings. FSSAI has directed the company to withdraw the entire affected batch, maintain recall records, submit status reports and take corrective measures to prevent recurrence. Consumers who have the specified batch should stop using it and follow recall instructions.
What Did The Tests Find?
The regulatory sample was collected in Goa as part of food safety testing. According to FSSAI, the initial Food Analyst’s report found Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam at levels exceeding their prescribed maximum residue limits. The sample was therefore classified as “UNSAFE”. Everest was allowed to challenge the initial findings, after which the sample was sent to a Referral Food Laboratory for independent assessment. The second laboratory also found both pesticide residues above the permitted limits and confirmed the unsafe classification.
FSSAI said, “The Referral Food Laboratory confirmed that the sample was ‘UNSAFE’,” leading to the recall order. The regulator has also instructed the food business operator to keep complete records of recalled stock, provide recall-related information within the stipulated timelines and submit a compliance report after corrective measures are completed.
What Should Consumers Do?
Consumers should check the batch number printed on their Everest pre-packed cumin powder. If the packet carries E080668761, it should not be used. The recall concerns the identified batch and does not mean that all Everest cumin powder or other Everest products have been declared unsafe. For people who may already have consumed the affected product, current consumer guidance reported by The Indian Express is to stop using the product, monitor for any adverse symptoms and seek medical advice if symptoms occur.
Importantly, the available regulatory information does not establish that consuming the product will necessarily cause illness, nor does it provide the exact quantity of pesticide residues detected. FSSAI’s recall framework is designed to remove food from the market and consumers when it may pose a public-health risk.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety recalls can understandably cause concern, particularly when the affected product is a familiar household staple used in everyday cooking. However, consumers also deserve clear, timely and evidence-based information rather than panic or speculation. In this case, the recall is limited to the identified Everest cumin powder batch E080668761, and does not mean that all Everest cumin powder products have been declared unsafe.
Regulators have a responsibility to ensure that food testing is transparent, scientifically sound and followed by timely action when safety limits are breached. Manufacturers, meanwhile, must treat food safety as a matter of public trust by maintaining quality controls, cooperating with recall procedures and communicating clearly with consumers. FSSAI has directed Everest Food Products to maintain records of the recalled stock, submit status reports and undertake corrective measures to prevent a recurrence.
For consumers, the episode is also a reminder to check batch numbers when a food-safety alert is issued and to avoid making assumptions about an entire brand based on a specific regulatory finding. Those who have the affected batch should stop using it and follow the recall guidance. People who may have consumed it should not panic, but should remain alert to any unusual symptoms and seek medical advice if needed.
Food safety ultimately depends on accountability at every stage, from farming and processing to testing, packaging, retail and consumption. Stronger monitoring, transparent recalls and accessible public information can help protect consumers while ensuring that responsible businesses are not unfairly targeted by speculation. Have you checked the batch numbers of packaged spices at home, and what more should regulators and food companies do to make food recalls clearer and more accessible to consumers?
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