Food Adulteration Scare in Hyderabad: Toxic Ingredients Found in Everyday Items!

In Hyderabad, a disturbing rise in food adulteration has come to light, exposing the use of harmful substances in commonly consumed items. Investigations revealed that fake ginger and garlic paste is being manufactured using acetic acid, titanium dioxide, chalk powder, and even waste peels to enhance texture and appearance. This alarming trend is not limited to a few outlets but extends across multiple food products, including milk, snacks, paneer, ice cream, and sweets. With increased dependency on outside food due to urban lifestyles, the risk to public health has escalated significantly. Authorities have intensified inspections under a special unit, Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team, leading to the seizure of tons of adulterated food within just two months.

Further raids exposed shocking conditions, including rotten meat stored for months and supplied to catering services, along with unhygienic kitchens infested with pests. In one case in Secunderabad, over 5,600 kg of fake paneer made using urea, detergent, and palm oil was seized. Officials warn that such toxic substances can cause severe health issues, including digestive disorders, organ damage, and even cancer. Senior officials, including CV Anand Sajjanar, stated that food adulteration is more dangerous than narcotics and strict legal action, including preventive detention, will be taken against repeat offenders.