FSSAI Orders Wai Wai Maker to Halt Snack Production After Floor Noodle Findings

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered Nepali billionaire Binod Chaudhary's CG Foods India to stop manufacturing certain products after inspectors found floor-collected broken noodles being processed into Indian snacks.

During a raid at the company's factory in Rajasthan, food safety officials discovered that broken noodles swept from the floor were being re-processed into Wai Wai-branded bhujia without undergoing heat treatment.

Massive Stock Seizures and Legal Action

Authorities reportedly seized nearly 32,000 kg of stock from the facility alongside 1,925 boxes of expired finished products. The regulatory body confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the food business operator, with samples sent for further testing.

CG Foods India is a subsidiary of CG Corp Global, chaired by Binod Chaudhary Nepal's sole billionaire, often dubbed the 'Noodle King' for establishing the global Wai Wai instant-noodle brand.

Broadening Enforcement Across States

The regulatory action forms part of a wider nationwide crackdown on food hygiene standards. In Maharashtra, FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe recently suspended the operating licences of four Domino's Pizza outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet following statewide inspections that uncovered multiple safety violations as per reports.

Separately, Maharashtra food safety officials raided a warehouse in Navi Mumbai, uncovering nearly 5,000 cartons of expired or near-expiry consumer goods. Inspectors found chemicals used to erase original packaging dates alongside machinery meant to print altered expiry dates and nutrition labels.

The seized goods in Navi Mumbai spanned multiple major brands, including PepsiCo's Lay's and Kurkure chips, Nestle's Maggi Masala Noodles, Unilever's Knorr Mushroom Soup, and Coca-Cola's Thums Up and Limca cans.