Nepal bans Priyagold biscuits following FSSAI quality crackdown in India
Indian regulators suspended Surya Food and Agro's licence over serious hygiene violations, prompting Nepal to ban imports and order market recalls.
Nepal bans Priyagold biscuits after Indian regulatory action
Nepal has banned the import, sale, and distribution of Priyagold biscuits following decisive regulatory action by India's Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Indian food watchdog suspended the manufacturing licence of Surya Food and Agro Ltd and sanctioned criminal prosecution after an inspection revealed severe food safety violations, including the use of raw materials intended for cattle feed.
Following FSSAI's notification, Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control classified the biscuits as substandard and issued an immediate ban to protect consumer health.
FSSAI inspections uncover severe safety breaches
The enforcement action by Indian authorities began after FSSAI launched a thorough inspection of Surya Food and Agro Ltd's production facility in response to a consumer complaint. Regulators discovered that bran explicitly packaged and marked as animal feed was being used as a fibre additive in biscuits manufactured for human consumption.
The inspection exposed several critical compliance failures across the facility:
| Area of inspection | Deficiencies identified by FSSAI |
|---|---|
| Raw materials | Use of cattle feed bran marked for animal consumption |
| Plant hygiene | Failure to maintain required sanitary standards |
| Pest management | Lapses in pest control protocols |
| Storage | Improper segregation and storage of raw ingredients |
| Personnel hygiene | Non-compliance with mandatory staff hygiene rules |
| Premises | Inadequate maintenance of processing areas |
India's regulatory body confirmed that the nature of these breaches warranted immediate suspension of the plant's food licence alongside formal legal sanction for prosecution.
Nepal orders immediate market recall
Nepal's food safety department convened a virtual emergency meeting led by Director General Sanjeev Kumar Karna to evaluate the findings released by the Indian regulator. Citing public health security and consumer welfare, the Nepalese authority prohibited all further imports, sales, and distribution of Priyagold biscuits across the country.
The department instructed authorised importers, wholesalers, and retail vendors to immediately withdraw all existing stocks from store shelves. Consumers were also advised to refrain from purchasing or consuming the product.
Rigorous enforcement safeguards quality standards
The intervention by FSSAI highlights India's active regulatory oversight and uncompromising approach to food safety standards. By taking direct enforcement action and suspending the company's operational licence, Indian regulators ensured that non-compliant products were swiftly removed from distribution channels, protecting consumers both domestically and in neighbouring export markets.
Surya Food and Agro Ltd has not issued an official response regarding the licence suspension or the prosecution proceedings.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer licence status | Suspended | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India |
| Primary raw material violation | Use of cattle feed bran in biscuits | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India |
| Import ban announcement date | 19 October 2026 | Nepal Department of Food Technology and Quality Control |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Department of Food Technology and Quality Control | Nepalese government agency that issued the ban and recall order. |
| Priyagold | Biscuit brand banned in Nepal following FSSAI findings. |
| Food Safety and Standards Authority of India | Indian regulator that inspected the manufacturer, suspended its licence, and sanctioned prosecution. |
| Surya Food and Agro Ltd | Indian company that manufactures Priyagold biscuits. |
| Nepal | Country banning the import and sale of the biscuits. |
