Wai Wai noodles banned in India? Here's what we know as FSSAI takes action over 'unhygienic practice'
The FSSAI has ordered the CG Foods India factory to stop producing certain Wai Wai products due to safety violations. Inspections revealed the reuse of broken noodles and unlicensed production practices.
India has ordered the CG Foods India factory to stop making certain Wai Wai products. Inspectors found broken noodles collected from the floor being reused without heat treatment. The findings explain why authorities ordered production stopped at the company's Rajasthan unit, Reuters reported.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) inspected the factory in Roopangarh, Ajmer. Officials were checking whether manufacturing practices and hygiene conditions followed food safety requirements. Their findings covered unsafe processing, missing manufacturing licences and problems with packaging dates.
According to FSSAI, the unit reprocessed broken noodles collected from the floor and turned them into bhujia. Inspectors specifically noted that this material was reused without heat treatment. This unhygienic practice was a central reason behind the enforcement action against the factory.
Quick answers to key questions
Certain Wai Wai products were banned due to unhygienic practices, including the reuse of broken noodles collected from the floor without heat treatment, as found during an inspection by the FSSAI.
The FSSAI inspected the Wai Wai factory for compliance with food safety requirements, focusing on manufacturing practices, hygiene conditions, missing licences, and packaging date issues.
The FSSAI action specifically concerns two bhujia variants: Wai Wai MaMa and Wai Wai Mama Punte, but does not establish a blanket ban on all Wai Wai noodles.
FSSAI has initiated strict legal proceedings against CG Foods India due to violations such as unhygienic practices, missing licensing, and the use of expired packaging dates.
The action against Wai Wai is part of a larger food safety drive in India, targeting hygiene lapses and illegal manufacturing practices in the food industry to ensure consumer safety.
The regulator also identified unlicensed manufacturing of both named bhujia variants. It described this as a violation of Section 31(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Therefore, the action involved both production practices and the absence of required authorisation.
Packaging was another concern, with inspectors finding that the unit used predated packaging dates. The inspection also revealed several hygiene and documentation deficiencies at the premises. These included inadequate pest-control records and other shortcomings connected with food hygiene and safety.
Authorities seized 32,107.2 kilograms of stock at the factory, including loose broken noodles. They also detained 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods found during the inspection. FSSAI said strict legal proceedings had been initiated against the food business operator.
Officials collected several samples for laboratory analysis to support further investigation. These included loose noodle material, vegetarian bhujia products and used cooking oil.
CG Foods India is part of CG Corp Global, led by Nepali billionaire Binod Chaudhary. Often called the Noodle King, Chaudhary leads the group associated with Wai Wai noodles. CG Foods India did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The crackdown forms part of India's wider food safety drive across the country. Central and state officials are acting against hygiene, labelling and other food safety lapses.
Are Wai Wai noodles banned in India?
No, not at the moment. The action concerns two bhujia variants, Wai Wai MaMa and Wai Wai Mama Punte. It does not establish a blanket ban on all Wai Wai noodles. The regulator directed the factory to discontinue these snacks without proper approvals and corrective measures.
At the same time, samples of Wai Wai Ready to Eat Noodles were collected for testing. Further regulatory action will depend on laboratory results and inspection findings.
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Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.
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