Priyagold biscuits have come under scrutiny after India's food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), initiated legal proceedings against their manufacturer, Surya Food & Agro Ltd, over alleged food safety violations, including the use of bran intended for cattle feed. The development has taken a wider turn after Nepal banned the import, sale and distribution of the company's biscuits, citing concerns over product quality and consumer safety.
Raising questions about food manufacturing standards, quality control and the safeguards required to ensure that products reaching consumers meet prescribed food safety regulations.
Why Has FSSAI Taken Action Against Priyagold?
According to the FSSAI findings reported on October 17, an inspection of Surya Food & Agro was conducted following a consumer complaint. During the inspection, officials found that bran meant for cattle feed and not intended for human consumption was being used as a raw material in Priyagold biscuit manufacturing as a source of fibre.
The regulator also reported deficiencies in several areas of the manufacturing facility, including plant hygiene, pest control, raw material storage and segregation, personnel hygiene, premises maintenance and the handling of intermediate formulations.
Following the inspection, FSSAI suspended the company's manufacturing licence and initiated legal proceedings for prosecution over the alleged violations. The action was announced alongside proceedings against other food businesses over separate concerns.
UEIR Organic Foods was found by FSSAI to contain pesticide residues in a sample of yellow raisins. The regulator has initiated legal proceedings for prosecution against the company for serious violations of food safety rules. Proceedings have also been initiated against Dodla Dairy after a sample of its full cream milk was found to be substandard due to non-compliance with prescribed milk fat specifications.
Nepal Bans Priyagold Biscuits
The controversy escalated on October 19, when Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) announced restrictions on the import, sale and distribution of Priyagold biscuits manufactured by Surya Food & Agro Ltd.
The department classified the biscuits as substandard, citing the food safety concerns raised by Indian authorities. The decision followed a digital emergency meeting convened at the initiative of department director general Sanjeev Kumar Karna, with public health and consumer welfare cited as key considerations.
Nepal's authorities directed traders and authorised importers to stop importing and distributing the affected products and also called for existing stocks to be recalled from the market.
Food safety depends not only on the reputation of a brand but also on compliance, effective oversight and accountability throughout the manufacturing process.
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