USFDA recalls Kinjin Food Pvt. Ltd. “Vandevi Asafoetida”.

 Traces of Undeclared wheat found in “Vandevi Asafoetida”

V. N. Thakkar Hingwala & Co. (now V. N. Thakkar Hingwala & Sons),  India’s favorite and most reliable manufacturer and exporter of asafoetida for almost 90 years. The company was incorporated into Kinjin Food Pvt. Ltd. in 1989 under the leadership of Mr. Mahesh Thakkar.

Vandevi Asafoetida (yellow powder) of Kinjin Food Pvt. Ltd. was sent for sale in the American market. But after examining the product, FDA announced the recall of Vandevi Asafoetida on January 10, 2024 due to the possibility of wheat content and violation of labeling regulations and published it on its website on January 17.

In fact, the same factory of Kinjin Food Pvt. which produces and packs Vandevi Asafoetida, also processes wheat products. Due to which there was a possibility of wheat particles being present in asafoetida.
As soon as FDA came to know about this information, FDA ordered the recall of Vandevi Asafoetida from the market. Consumers have also been requested to return the product as ‘they can get the money by depositing Vandevi Asafoetida at the shops where they purchased the product.

Till now, no customer has faced any problem due to allergy due to Vandevi Asafoetida. But the FDA had to take this step for consumer safety.
How is asafoetida made?
Asafoetida is a white and sticky substance that comes out of the roots of a type of plant. Fresh asafoetida is very strong and cannot be used directly. For this, asafoetida has been processed.

Pure asafoetida is mixed with arrowroot or corn flour, rice flour and wheat flour, balanced and packed and sent to the market for sale

Status of Kinjin Food and  likewise Asafoetida in India too

Arrowroot or rice flour is used in most of the compound asafoetida yellow powder (Bandhani asafoetida) available in our country. Some cheap brands use wheat flour in it, which is sold under the name of Strong Asafoetida. This can cause problems to patients allergic to wheat.

Asafoetida is used in cooking in very small quantities, so it is not fatal for wheat allergy patients. But continuous use may cause problems.

Most of the Indian asafoetida products do not have any warning written on the labeling of asafoetida regarding wheat allergy.

Therefore, while buying asafoetida, definitely read the type of asafoetida and its labeling to know what has been added to it.