Nepal orders nationwide recall of Priyagold biscuits over food safety concerns

Kathmandu, October 19, 2026 — All varieties of Indian-made Priyagold biscuits are to be removed from the Nepali market after authorities raised concerns about the use of bran intended for cattle feed in biscuit production.

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has directed importers and food businesses to stop selling the products immediately and ensure that every batch, regardless of its manufacturing date, is recalled.

The action follows a notice issued by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority on October 17. The Indian regulator investigated the manufacturing facility of Surya Food and Agro Limited after receiving complaints from consumers.

During the inspection, officials reportedly found that bran used as a source of fibre in the biscuits came from sacks labelled for cattle feed and marked as unsuitable for human consumption.

The inspection also revealed serious deficiencies in factory cleanliness, pest management, raw-material storage and employees’ personal hygiene. Indian authorities subsequently suspended the company’s licence and initiated legal proceedings.

In Nepal, the decision to halt imports and sales was taken at an emergency meeting of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control’s senior management group and Product Recall Technical Committee. Director General Sanjiv Kumar Karn attended the meeting.

The department has also suspended import approvals and permission for the products to enter Nepal through border points, citing the need to protect consumers.

Businesses must arrange for the recalled biscuits to be destroyed safely. The process must be documented in the presence of representatives from the relevant local government or local administration and technical staff from the department.

The department has warned that businesses continuing to sell the products or otherwise putting public health at risk could face legal action under Nepal’s Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2024.