Food Safety officials seize 960 kg of ginger garlic paste during inspections in Khammam

The Telangana Food Safety Task Force seized 960 kg of adulterated ginger garlic paste and destroyed unsafe sweets, citing violations at multiple food processing units in Khammam.

Khammam: The State Food Safety Task Force officials conducted surprise checks on several food processing, ginger garlic sales and sweet manufacturing centres here on Monday. Items seized during the raid included 960 kilograms of ginger and garlic paste.

Following the directions from Telangana State Food Safety Commissioner RV Karnan, the Task Force team, headed by zonal assistant food controller V Jyotirmayi, comprising food inspectors P Rohit Reddy, P Swathi, P Manoj Kumar and B Ratan Rao carried out the inspections. Many violations were found at the Magic Ginger and Garlic paste manufacturing plant in Rikka Bazaar in Khammam town. The unit lacked FSSAI license, errors in labels, batch numbers, FSCI logo, repacking, address and lack of correct details were found.

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It was suspected that due storage of ginger garlic paste next to detergents, chemicals like phenol led to cross-contamination and bad smell in the paste. The ginger and garlic paste suspected to be adulterated and 960 kg of ginger and garlic paste worth Rs 1.32 lakh was seized.

It was found that food items were prepared in an unclean kitchen, using high doses of carcinogenic chemical dyes in sweets at Vijaya Lakshmi Pastries in Church Compound area. Rs 6550 food items were destroyed and samples were collected and transported for testing.

Similar violations were found during inspection at Hari Sweet Home in Mayuri Bazaar. Food colours and creams worth Rs 6, 950 destroyed. In all the above cases notices were issued to the traders and collected samples were being sent to lab for testing, said Jyotirmayi. The Telangana Food Safety Task Force would take strict measures to protect the health of the people and traders should follow the rules and act responsibly, she added.