Hyderabad: Food adulteration has touched a new high in the state with increase in the incidents of adulteration of turmeric powder, chilli powder and masalas.
With all these being the most important kitchen ingredients, adulterating units are mushrooming in the outskirts.
Earlier turmeric powder was adulterated with sawdust but now it is being replaced with powdered subsidized rice.
Officials raided an illegal manufacturing unit in Kushaiguda and seized huge quantities of adulterated kitchen ingredients.
Food adulteration business has grown in terms of volume with many units coming up in the city outskirts. The main purpose behind food adulteration is to gain illegal profits.
According to officials of SOT Cyberabad, the owners of food adulterating units procure raw material from local markets and after mixing them, they pack it in pouches and distribute it to wholesalers.
“Food adulteration is a very big racket. We are strictly dealing to curb these units. People should also be careful about the food items they use,” said SOT inspector N.C.H. Ranga Swamy.
While turmeric is adulterated by mixing sawdust and powdered subsidized rice, chilli powder is adulterated with powdered brick.
Most of spices and masalas we use in the kitchen are also adulterated. Black pepper is adulterated with papaya seeds.
Even Kumkum one of the costliest ingredient is adulterated by mixing it with low quality Kumkum available in the market. Coriander powder and other products like jeera are mixed with husk.
“It is difficult to make out if it is original or adulterated because they pack the material in pouches with brand names,” the inspector added.
Adulterated food seizures: July 11: 900 kg turmeric powder, 30 kg garam masala, 1,500 kg coriander powder, 1,500 kg subsidy rice, 1,300 kg kumkum seized in Kushaiguda.
June 10: 100 kg of raw ginger, 500 kg duplicate ginger and adulterated garlic paste seized from a unit at Jawaharnagar.
June 11: 700, 50-bags of raw material, four bags of maida, 35, 25-litre tins of hydrogen peroxide, 30, 50-kg bags of biryani powder and garam masala bags seized from a unit at Pahadishareef.
December 2014: 2,058, 200-gram bottles, 24, 1-kg bottles, 8, 30-kg buckets. and two drums full of ginger and garlic paste seized from Medipally.
To check adulteration: Turmeric powder: When mixed in water, a residue is formed and water also turns yellow.
Chilli powder: When mixed in water, brick powder residue is found and colour difference can be observed.
Black pepper: Papaya seeds can be separated as they are shrunken and oval in shape and brown coloured.
Mustard seed: Argemone seed can be identified by by its rough structure and black colour.
Precautions
Check for the ISI, Agmark and FSSAI certifications
Always buy from reputed stores and packed items only.
Take adulterated food items to the consumer forum.
