FSSAI orders recall of Everest cumin powder: What to do if you have used affected batch

On October 4, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced a recall of Everest cumin powder due to unsafe pesticide residue levels. The Indian food regulator directed M/s Everest Food Products Private Limited to immediately recall the pre-packed cumin powder after laboratory tests revealed Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam residues exceeding permissible limits.

FSSAI emphasizes that this specific recall does not imply all packaged cumin powders are unsafe. However, if you have consumed the affected batch, steps to take include halting use of the product and avoiding further exposure. Panicking or self-inducing vomiting is unnecessary, as the risk depends on factors like concentration, quantity, frequency of exposure, and individual vulnerability.

Dr Chirag Tandon, a Director of Internal Medicine at ShardaCare - Healthcity, advises that pesticide residues above limits do not automatically lead to poisoning. The actual risk depends on the specific circumstances of exposure. For children and individuals with other vulnerabilities, heightened caution is warranted due to body weight influencing dietary exposure assessment.

The recalled batch is identified by Batch No. E080668761. Consumers should scrutinize product labels, checking brand name, batch or lot number, manufacturing and best-before dates, FSSAI license details, and packaging integrity. If the product has been flagged in FSSAI recall notices, additional precautions are advised.