- Food safety raid in Hyderabad seized over 4,032 kg of adulterated ginger-garlic paste
- SKR Food Products operated under unhygienic conditions using harmful additives
- Owner arrested; materials handed to Mailardevpally Police
A recent food safety raid in Hyderabad has uncovered a large quantity of adulterated ginger-garlic paste being supplied to restaurants and retail outlets, posing a serious public health risk. The Commissioner's Task Force, Khairtabad Zone, along with the H-Fast Team, Hyderabad, found that the unit, SKR Food Products in Kattedan, was operating under unhygienic conditions, using inferior raw materials and additives such as acetic acid and xanthan gum, and failing to follow proper food safety standards.
Authorities seized over 4,032 kg of adulterated paste, 6,210 kg of low-quality raw materials, and related items worth about Rs 22 lakh.
Pictures and videos shared by the Hyderabad City Police on social media show raw garlic stored on the floor in unhygienic conditions, and the production of ginger-garlic paste taking place in extremely dirty surroundings.
The owner of the unit, Hasan Ali Rupani, 55, has been arrested for manufacturing adulterated ginger-garlic paste. The accused and the seized materials have been handed over to the Mailardevpally Police for further action.
This is not the first incident involving adulterated ginger-garlic paste production in Hyderabad. In March, food safety officials inspected the Borabanda area and found that adulterated paste was being prepared in conditions that violated multiple hygiene norms.
Earlier, during a raid in Mallepally, officials seized around 1,090 kg of adulterated ginger-garlic paste, 875 kg of raw ginger and garlic, chemicals used for adulteration, grinding equipment, and a mobile phone - all valued at approximately Rs 2.2 lakh.
Amid such frequent raids and rising food safety concerns, it is advisable to prepare fresh ginger-garlic paste at home and consume healthy and clean home-cooked food.
