15 tonnes of fake masala made with wood dust, chemicals, and rotten rice seized
When it comes to Indian savoury foods, spices like turmeric, coriander, cumin, and many more, play a key role in defining the taste and nutritional value of dishes. But, what if these spices turn out to be toxic and instead of doing good, they lead to deadly health issues? Well, we all are aware of the recent update on the packaged spices, where Hong Kong and Singapore banned the sale of MDH and Everest Food Products Pvt. after the alleged detection of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in several spice mixes including Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder.
As per the latest report, in a recent raid at two factories in north east Delhi’s Karawal Nagar area, Delhi Police has seized a staggering 15 tonnes of fake coriander powder, turmeric powder, and other spices.
It has been reported that these fake spices were made with rotten leaves and rice, spoiled millets, wood dust, chilli heads, acids and substandard oils and the accused were supplying these adulterated spices to local markets and vendors in Delhi/NCR for the same price as the original products.
Police received information regarding the involvement of certain manufacturers and shopkeepers in northeast Delhi in the production and sale of adulterated spices under various brands and that is when the raid was done and further investigations led to the discovery of another processing unit on Kali Khata Road, Karawal Nagar.
As per a statement by the DCP, Delhi Police, the Department of Food & Safety was informed, which conducted inspections, collected samples of the recovered adulterated spices from both factories and a case had been registered under relevant sections of the law, and all three accused Suspects Dilip Singh (46), Sarfaraj (32) – owners of the units – and Khurseed Malik (42) have been arrested.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that Singh and Sarfaraj had set up their units in 2021 to make more profit by producing adulterated spices.
Do you cross-check the adulteration of spices at home with the help of simple and easy tricks? Share your feedback in the comments section.
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