FSSAI Orders Production Halt at CG Foods Unit
Popular noodle brand Wai Wai has come under the spotlight after India’s food safety regulator ordered its manufacturer, CG Foods India, to stop producing certain Veg Bhujia Namkeen products at its Rajasthan facility.
The action followed an inspection at the company’s Roopangarh plant in Ajmer, where officials reported multiple food safety, hygiene, licensing and packaging violations.
However, the development does not amount to a blanket ban on all Wai Wai products or noodles in India. The enforcement action is focused on specific bhujia products manufactured at the inspected facility.
Broken Noodles Collected From the Floor
The most alarming finding involved the handling of broken noodles.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), inspectors found that broken noodles collected from the factory floor were being reprocessed into bhujia products without heat treatment.
Such a practice raises serious concerns because food that has fallen onto a factory floor can potentially be exposed to contaminants. The regulator also found inadequate pest-control records and other deficiencies related to hygiene and food-safety management.
FSSAI has ordered the company to discontinue production of the affected Veg Bhujia Namkeen products until appropriate approvals and corrective measures are in place.
32,107 Kg of Stock Seized
The enforcement operation resulted in the seizure of 32,107.2 kg of stock, including loose and broken noodles.
Authorities also detained 1,925 boxes of expired finished products and collected samples for laboratory analysis. Legal proceedings have been initiated, with further regulatory action possible depending on the inspection findings and laboratory results.
The regulator also identified concerns involving product licensing and packaging dates.
Unlicensed Wai Wai Bhujia Variants
FSSAI said two bhujia variants — Wai-Wai MaMa and Wai-Wai Mama Punte — were being manufactured without the required licence.
The regulator said this violated Section 31(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which requires food businesses to hold the appropriate licence for manufacturing food products.
Officials also found the use of predated packaging dates, adding to the compliance concerns at the facility.
Who Owns Wai Wai?
Wai Wai is one of the best-known brands of Nepal’s Chaudhary Group, whose FMCG business is led by the family of billionaire businessman Binod Chaudhary.
CG Foods has expanded Wai Wai into multiple international markets, with manufacturing operations in several countries. In India, the brand has built a substantial presence in the instant-noodle market.
The current FSSAI action therefore has the potential to create reputational concerns for a brand that has a large consumer base.
What Consumers Should Know
The most important distinction is between the specific products and manufacturing practices under investigation and the entire Wai Wai product portfolio.
The regulator has not announced a blanket prohibition on all Wai Wai noodles. The action concerns the Veg Bhujia Namkeen products manufactured at the inspected Rajasthan facility.
The episode nevertheless highlights the importance of strict hygiene controls in large-scale food manufacturing. Even established consumer brands remain subject to regulatory inspections, and failures involving sanitation, licensing or product handling can quickly trigger enforcement action.
For CG Foods, the immediate priority will be demonstrating compliance, addressing the deficiencies identified by FSSAI and establishing that its manufacturing processes meet the required food-safety standards.
Summary
FSSAI has ordered CG Foods India to stop producing certain Wai Wai-branded Veg Bhujia Namkeen products after inspectors found serious hygiene and regulatory violations at its Ajmer facility. Broken noodles collected from the factory floor were allegedly being reused without heat treatment, while more than 32,000 kg of stock was seized and 1,925 boxes of expired goods were detained. The action is against specific bhujia products and is not a blanket ban on all Wai Wai noodles in India.
