When it comes to food safety, adulteration is one of the biggest concerns that is injurious to human health. In Indian cuisine, spices like turmeric powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder, etc., are some of the most common ingredients for day-to-day meals. Unfortunately, with the demand and profit margins being higher in the sector, people use cheap and fake ingredients to make the spices.
Adulteration in spices is something that has been in the news for ages now. After the recent ban on certain MDH and Evergreen masalas, a new scam related to the selling of fake spices was reported in Delhi. Two factories in Karawal Nagar, located in Delhi, were raided recently, and 15 tonnes of fake spices were seized. Here is everything you need to know about the case.
15 Tonnes Of Spices Seized In Delhi
As per reports, on 5th May 2024, the Delhi police raided two factories in Karawal Nagar, Delhi. The owners of the units Dilip Singh (46) Sarfaraj (32), along with Khurseed Malik (42), were arrested by the Delhi police. Upon examination, the spices that the factories were selling to vendors all across Delhi NCR were fake.
Reportedly, the processing units that were manufacturing turmeric powder, amchur powder, garam masala, etc, in bulk were using banned and inedible contents. Upon examination, the major ingredients that these factories were using came out to be rotten rice, spoiled leaves, heads of chillies, acids, and even wood dust.
With further investigation, reports suggest that the manufacturers were selling these fake spices at the same prices as the original ones. Apart from the owners, there are many shopkeepers and vendors in Delhi who are suspected of being included in the scam. The Delhi police have also been reported to further inform the Department Of Food And Safety.
Even though the suspects were arrested, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that you are not consuming adulterated spices. As per FSSAI, there are many tests you can perform at home to keep a check on the spices you are buying off the market. So, before you trust a brand for the spices, mindfully check the spices and take the necessary steps to take care of your health.