FSSAI orders recall of Wonderland Raisins over excess pesticide residues
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a recall order for a batch of Wonderland Raisins, manufactured by Sun Organic Industries Private Limited, after regulatory testing detected pesticide residues exceeding the maximum permissible limits under Indian food safety law. The order, announced on 30 July, follows samples collected by the Central Food Safety Officer (CFSO) of FSSAI's Northern Region Office being declared unsafe.
What the Tests Found
A regulatory sample of the product was tested at two independent laboratories — the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and the Referral Laboratory at NIFTEM-K. Both facilities independently confirmed that pesticide residues in the sample exceeded the limits prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The dual-laboratory confirmation adds significant weight to the recall directive.
What FSSAI Has Directed
The competent authority has instructed Sun Organic Industries Private Limited to immediately recall the entire batch of the implicated product. The company must comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2017. Beyond the recall itself, the food business operator has been directed to submit recall information and periodic recall status reports, maintain accurate records of all recovered products, and put corrective measures in place to prevent a recurrence.
FSSAI's Statement
'A recall order has been issued to Sun Organic Industries Private Limited after regulatory samples of Wonderland Raisins were found unsafe due to pesticide residues exceeding the prescribed limits,' the regulator said in an official post on social media platform X. The recall is being executed under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, which empowers FSSAI to order the withdrawal of any food product deemed unsafe for human consumption.
Why This Matters
Pesticide contamination in dried fruits has been a recurring concern for Indian food regulators. Raisins, widely consumed across age groups and often marketed as a healthy snack, carry a higher risk perception when found unsafe. This recall underscores FSSAI's stepped-up enforcement through its network of Central Food Safety Officers, who collect samples at the trade level rather than relying solely on manufacturer declarations. Notably, the involvement of two separate national-level laboratories in confirming the findings reflects the regulator's multi-tier verification protocol.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who have purchased Wonderland Raisins from Sun Organic Industries Private Limited are advised to check the batch details and refrain from consuming the recalled product. FSSAI has not yet published a specific batch number in publicly available communications, so consumers are advised to monitor the regulator's official channels for further updates. The recall status reports submitted by the company will be tracked by FSSAI as part of its post-recall compliance monitoring.