Hyderabad-FAST seizes over 25,300 kgs of cloves, fennel seeds and other spices adulterated with dyes, synthetic colours and talcum powder

In a major drive conducted by the Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-Fast) along with the GHMC’s Food Safety Team, over 25,300 kgs of spices adulterated using fabric dyes, talcum powder, industrial dyes, synthetic colours and other means were seized.

The adulterated spices along with harmful additives used, displayed at a press conference held in Hyderabad on August 4, 2026
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

Amount of spices seized

The seized products, meant for supply in both the Telugu States, included 7,920 kgs of ajwain (carom seeds); 6,700 kgs of jeera (cumin); 4,960 kgs of mustard; 2,350 kgs jeera dust; 2,280 kgs of shajeera (caraway); 550 kgs of cloves, and 540 kgs of saunf (fennel seeds). Besides this, 89,150 kgs of raw material used for adulteration too was seized. The spices were adulterated to enhance their appearance and increase weight, police said.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar showing how colour of water with adulterated fennel seeds changed
| Photo Credit:
BY ARRANGEMENT

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) that the enforcement drive was taken up based on credible information. H-FAST of the 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, apart from indulging in 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 colours to give them a bright and premium appearance. Permanent industrial dyes were used to adulterate shahjeera, ajwain, and several other essential spices, a press note said.

The accused said that they learnt of the adulteration methods from Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Sajjanar said. Holding a sachet used for adulterating mustard seeds, Mr. Sajjanar said ‘poisonous and non-edible’ was written on it. 

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar showing how colour of water with adulterated spices changed, during a press conference held in the city on August 4, 2026
| Photo Credit:
BY ARRANGEMENT

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 colour of water with the adulterated spices changed quickly. Mr. Sajjanar said three cases were registered and three people were arrested. The accused were identified as Rahul Bhati, a resident of Katedan; Vishal Panwar and Dulichand Kachhawar, residents of Begum Bazar.

The police even showed videos of how few spices were adulterated at the units. Task Force and H-FAST DCP Vaibhav Gaikwad showed mustard seeds adulterated with dye, which did not lose colour even after mixing it in water. 

How to reach H-FAST?

The spices suspected to have been adulterated were seized along with chemical additives and sent for laboratory analysis. Citizens can reach H-FAST’s tollfree number at 8712661212, and 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