Hyderabad H-FAST Seizes 25 Tonnes of Adulterated Spices, Three Arrested

Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) has seized more than 25 tonnes of adulterated spices from trading and processing units across the city. The raids uncovered the use of industrial dyes, synthetic colours and other hazardous chemicals in products intended for public consumption, prompting criminal action against those allegedly involved.

Revealing the details on Tuesday, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said three criminal cases had been registered and three persons arrested. Acting on credible intelligence, police and Food Safety Department officials jointly conducted inspections at 13 spice trading, processing and distribution units, exposing widespread violations of food safety regulations.

Investigators found that several businesses were using Bush Synthetic Orange Red, Green Food Colours, textile dyes, industrial-grade pigments, talcum powder and rice bran oil to artificially enhance the colour, shine, weight and appearance of spices. Officials warned that these substances are unsafe for human consumption and prolonged exposure could lead to liver and kidney damage, digestive disorders and other serious health complications.

Among the violations detected, one manufacturing unit was allegedly processing rejected mustard seeds with textile dye and talcum powder before selling them as premium products. In another case, cloves, shahi jeera (black cumin) and ajwain (carom seeds) were found coated with artificial colours to improve their market value.

Sajjanar said stringent action was being initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, while serious provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to acts that endanger human life had also been invoked. He said the authorities would intensify inspections to dismantle adulteration networks and ensure the availability of safe, unadulterated food products.

The Commissioner also highlighted the progress made by H-FAST, which was established in March 2026 in coordination with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Food Safety authorities. Since its launch, the special enforcement team has conducted 659 raids, registered 202 FIRs, and seized nearly 246 tonnes of adulterated food products.

Apart from spices, H-FAST has confiscated over 12 tonnes of spoiled chicken and mutton, 60 tonnes of unhygienically stored poultry waste, 25.8 tonnes of chemically ripened fruits, 9.2 tonnes of adulterated pickles, and 3.8 tonnes of adulterated tea powder, underscoring the scale of food adulteration in the city and the agency's ongoing efforts to protect public health.