FSSAI orders CG Foods India to halt Veg Bhujia Namkeen production over safety violations
Synopsis
FSSAI has ordered Wai-Wai maker CG Foods India to halt Veg Bhujia Namkeen production after inspectors at its Rajasthan plant found floor-collected broken noodles being re-processed without heat treatment, unlicensed manufacturing of two bhujia variants, and predated packaging — seizing over 32,000 kg of stock in one of the regulator's most detailed snack-sector enforcement actions this year.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI directed CG Foods India Pvt Ltd on 3 September to stop production of Veg Bhujia Namkeen products.
Inspectors at the Roopangarh, Ajmer facility found broken noodles collected from the floor being re-processed into bhujia without heat treatment .
32,107.2 kg of stock was seized on-site; 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods were separately detained.
Manufacturing of 'Wai-Wai MaMa' and 'Wai-Wai Mama Punte' bhujia variants was found to be unlicensed, violating Section 31(1) of the FSS Act, 2006 .
Regulatory samples sent for lab analysis; further action will follow based on results.
On the same day, FSSAI also acted against British Lifesciences Pvt Ltd in Bengaluru for misbranded and expired infant food products.
India's food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Thursday, 3 September directed CG Foods India Pvt Ltd — the maker of the Wai-Wai noodle brand — to immediately discontinue production of its Veg Bhujia Namkeen products following a damning inspection at its facility in Roopangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan. The enforcement action follows findings of unsafe re-processing practices, unlicensed manufacturing, predated packaging, and multiple hygiene deficiencies at the plant.
What the Inspection Found
FSSAI inspectors found that the unit was re-processing floor-collected, broken noodles into bhujia products without any heat treatment — a practice the regulator flagged as a direct food safety risk. Inspectors also discovered the use of predated packaging dates, which misrepresents product freshness to consumers.
Critically, the facility was found to be manufacturing 'Wai-Wai MaMa' and 'Wai-Wai Mama Punte' bhujia variants without a valid licence — a direct violation of Section 31(1) of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. Additional deficiencies included inadequate pest-control records and other lapses in food hygiene documentation.
Stock Seized and Samples Collected
Enforcement teams seized 32,107.2 kg of on-site stock, including loose broken noodles. A further 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods were detained separately. Regulatory samples — covering loose noodle material, both Veg Bhujia variants, used cooking oil from the frying line, and 'Wai-Wai Ready to Eat Noodles' — have been sent for laboratory analysis.
According to the regulator's statement, 'strict legal proceedings' have been initiated against the Food Business Operator (FBO). The FSSAI added that further regulatory action will follow based on laboratory results and inspection findings, in accordance with the FSS Act, 2006.
Broader Enforcement Drive
The action against CG Foods India was not an isolated move. On the same day, FSSAI also initiated enforcement action against British Lifesciences Private Limited in Bengaluru, Karnataka, following an inspection that uncovered misbranded and expired infant food products. A substantial quantity of misbranded infant food was seized, and legal proceedings were initiated against that FBO as well.
The regulator described both actions as part of a wider enforcement drive aimed at ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, with particular focus on vulnerable consumer categories including infants and young children.
What Happens Next
CG Foods India has been directed to halt Veg Bhujia Namkeen production until proper approvals and corrective measures are in place. The outcome of laboratory analysis on the collected samples will determine the scale of further penalties. This comes amid a broader pattern of FSSAI intensifying inspections across food processing units in 2024–25, with packaged snack and noodle manufacturers facing heightened scrutiny over labelling and processing standards.
Point of View
Not a paperwork lapse. That it occurred at a nationally recognised brand's facility raises questions about how consistently FSSAI's licensing and audit systems penetrate mid-tier manufacturing. The simultaneous action against an infant food producer in Bengaluru signals a deliberate enforcement escalation, but the real test is follow-through: lab results and penalty orders must be made public to establish credible deterrence. Without transparent outcomes, high-profile seizures risk becoming theatre rather than systemic correction.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has FSSAI ordered CG Foods India to stop Veg Bhujia Namkeen production?
FSSAI ordered the halt after an inspection at CG Foods India's Roopangarh, Ajmer facility found the unit re-processing floor-collected broken noodles into bhujia products without heat treatment, using predated packaging dates, and manufacturing two bhujia variants without a valid licence. These violations breach the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
How much stock was seized from CG Foods India's Rajasthan plant?
Enforcement teams seized 32,107.2 kg of stock on-site, including loose broken noodles, and separately detained 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods. Regulatory samples from multiple product lines have been sent for laboratory analysis.
Which specific products and violations were identified at the CG Foods India facility?
Inspectors flagged unsafe re-processing of floor-collected noodles, predated packaging, and unlicensed manufacturing of 'Wai-Wai MaMa' and 'Wai-Wai Mama Punte' bhujia variants — the last of which directly violates Section 31(1) of the FSS Act, 2006. Hygiene lapses including inadequate pest-control records were also noted.
What further action can CG Foods India face?
FSSAI has initiated strict legal proceedings against CG Foods India and stated that further regulatory action will be taken based on laboratory analysis of the collected samples and inspection findings, in accordance with the FSS Act, 2006. The company must obtain proper approvals before resuming Veg Bhujia Namkeen production.
Was any other company targeted in the same FSSAI enforcement drive?
Yes. On the same day, FSSAI also acted against British Lifesciences Private Limited in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where inspectors found misbranded and expired infant food products. A substantial quantity was seized and legal proceedings were initiated as part of a broader enforcement drive focused on food safety compliance.
