Patanjali Foods recalls 4 tonnes of red chilli powder

Patanjali Foods Ltd has recalled four tonnes of red chilli powder from markets, following the direction from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The food regulator has directed it to initiate recall of the entire batch of implicated food (i.e. red chilli powder (packed) of Batch No. – AJD2400012 due to non-conformance of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011,” the firm said on Thursday.

“We have recalled a small batch of four tonnes of ‘red chilli powder (200-gram pack). When the product sample was tested, it was found that the product was not conforming to the maximum permitted limit of pesticides residue,” its CEO Sanjeev Asthana said.

He stated, “The FSSAI sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides residue for various food items, including red chilli powder.”

In line with specified regulatory norms, Asthana said the company has taken immediate steps to inform its distribution channel partners and also released advertisements to reach out to the consumers, who have purchased the product.

He urged customers to return the product to the place of purchase and claim full refund. The company is undertaking assessment of its agricultural produce suppliers and taking measures to have stringent quality control processes for the procurement of agricultural produce and to ensure full compliance with the FSSAI regulations, he added.