Kitchen Crisis: Hyderabad Police Seize 4,000 kg of Toxic Ginger-Garlic Paste in Major Raid
Hyderabad's Task Force has seized 4,000 kg of adulterated ginger-garlic paste in a raid at MS Maqtha. Arresting JJ Foods owner Jasani Ilyan, police uncovered unhygienic manufacturing involving acetic acid and expired FSSAI labels. The bust highlights growing food safety concerns regarding pre-packaged kitchen staples.
The raid, led by the Khairatabad Zone Task Force in coordination with Lake Police, resulted in the arrest of 21-year-old Jasani Ilyan, the proprietor of JJ Foods. Investigators uncovered a scene of gross negligence; the paste was being prepared in open plastic tubs, left entirely exposed to dust, flies, and ambient contaminants. Adding to the health risk, the unit was found utilizing expired labels from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to deceive consumers and local retailers. Beyond the massive stockpile of finished product—ranging from 50-gram sachets to 5-kilogram commercial jars—officers confiscated industrial grinding machinery, five kilograms of turmeric used for artificial coloring, and 20 liters of acetic acid, a chemical frequently used as a cheap preservative in substandard food units.
Police officials noted that the adulterated products were being funneled into general kirana stores and local eateries, where they were sold as genuine, safe-to-consume ingredients. While no immediate health casualties have been reported, medical experts warn that the long-term consumption of food items processed with unauthorized chemicals and stored in such unhygienic conditions can lead to severe gastrointestinal distress and chronic health issues. The accused and the seized materials have been handed over to the Lake Police Station for further legal proceedings under relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
This latest bust has reignited a city-wide debate over the safety of pre-packaged "ready-to-use" essentials. As the Task Force intensifies its crackdown on unauthorized food units, law enforcement and health advocates are urging citizens to exercise extreme caution. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with convenience, with authorities strongly recommending that households return to the traditional practice of preparing fresh pastes at home to ensure both purity and personal safety.

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