In a major drive conducted by Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-Fast) with GHMC’s Food Safety Team, over 25,300 kgs of spices which were adulterated using fabric dyes, talcum powder, industrial dyes, synthetic colours and other means were seized. The adulterated spices included mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cloves, shajeera, ajwain and jeera. The products were adulterated to enhance their appearance, increase weight and for other purposes.

Amount of spices seized

The seized products includes 7,920 kgs of ajwain; 6,700 kgs of jeera; 4,960 kgs of mustard; 2,350 kg jeera dust; 2,280 kgs shajeera; 550 kgs cloves, and 540 kgs fennel seeds. Besides this, 89,150 kgs raw material used for adulteration too was seized.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) that the major enforcement drive was taken up on traders who sell, trade or process species, based on credible information. H-FAST of Hyderabad Police Commissioner’s Task Force in coordination with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) Food Safety Team inspected 13 business establishments and independent business locations which were actively engaged in the procurement, processing, and wholesale or retail trading of spices and also indulging certain offences affecting human health. 

How were spices adulterated?

At one of the manufacturing facilities, low-quality and rejected mustard stocks were adulterated by mixing fabric dye, talcum powder, and oil to enhance the spice’s gloss, weight, and overall volume. In other units, spices such as cloves and shahjeera were found coated with synthetic colors to give them a bright and premium appearance. Permanent industrial dyes were used to adulterate shahjeera, ajwain, and several other essential spices, as per a press note.

The other violations detected included misbranding, and non-compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

To showcase the nature of adulterated products, the Police Commissioner added adulterated and unadulterated cloves and fennel seeds to four separate transparent glasses with water. The color of water with the adulterated spices changed quickly. Mr. Sajjanar said three cases were registered and three people were arrested. The accused are Rahul Bhati, resident of Katedan; Vishal Panwar and Dulichand Kachhawar, residents of Begum Bazar.

How to reach H-FAST?

The spices suspected to have been adulterated were seized along with chemical additives and sent for laboratory analysis. H-FAST’s tollfree number is 8712661212, its handle on X is @HFastHCP.

Adulterated spices seized by H-FAST

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar at a press conference on adulterated spices, in the city on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) | Video Credit: NAGARA GOPAL