FSSAI has ordered an immediate production halt at CG Foods India’s Roopangarh facility following severe hygiene violations. Authorities seized over 32,000 kg of stock and expired products, signaling significant legal and operational risks for the manufacturer of the Wai Wai brand.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an immediate production stop at the CG Foods India manufacturing facility located in Roopangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan. This regulatory action follows a surprise inspection that uncovered multiple serious safety and compliance lapses at the site.
The investigation revealed that the facility was repurposing broken noodle waste, collected directly from factory floors, into 'Veg Bhujia Namkeen' products without undergoing the required heat treatment processes. Furthermore, inspectors discovered that the company was producing 'Wai-Wai MaMa' and 'Wai-Wai Mama Punte' noodle variants without holding the necessary licenses for these specific products. The audit also uncovered evidence of predated packaging, a practice that compromises consumer safety and misleads buyers regarding product freshness.
Impact on Operations and Legal Standing
Regulators seized approximately 32,107 kilograms of inventory and 1,925 boxes of expired finished products found on the premises. Formal legal proceedings have now been initiated against the food business operator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
For a manufacturer of a widely consumed brand like Wai Wai, these findings represent substantial business risks. Beyond the immediate halt in production at the Rajasthan plant, the company faces direct financial losses from the seizure and expected destruction of inventory, alongside the costs associated with ongoing legal investigations. The company’s ability to resume operations at the facility will depend on its ability to satisfy the FSSAI’s stringent audit requirements and prove that it has fully corrected the hygiene and licensing lapses.
Broader Regulatory Context
This intervention occurs amid a wider regulatory push in the Indian consumer products sector to enforce stricter hygiene and safety standards. Recent operations by food safety agencies have extended to various warehouses and manufacturing units, with authorities citing issues like label tampering and poor inventory management across several major brands. As regulatory agencies increase the frequency and intensity of these surprise inspections, food manufacturers across the country are under rising pressure to maintain transparent, compliant, and hygienic production processes to avoid costly factory closures and long-term damage to brand equity.
The next important updates for observers will include the outcomes of the legal proceedings, the status of the plant's operating licenses, and any corrective actions the company takes to realign its manufacturing facility with national safety norms.