Food adulteration units thrive at Begum Bazaar

​Hyderabad: Not far away from Begum Bazaar, the biggest wholesale market, food adulteration units flourish. From adulterated ginger to garlic paste to Chocolate manufacturing company, adulterated milk, coconut powder, poor quality raisins and other products are being made.

The activity is going on under the nose of four police stations of Goshamahal Division. Over a dozen units has so far been raided beginning from June and it was revealed that the products are finding their way into the market. These adulterated products pose health hazard to consumers.

In spite of regular raids by the authorities on food adulteration units across the city, the activity has continued unabated. In fact, it has spread its tentacles to new area around Begum Bazar. The proximity to the market has helped rogue elements overcome all hindrances in ensuring the delivery of adulterated products into the market.

The wholesalers in the market have disavowed the knowledge of the illegal activity. Most of these units have flourished under the very nose of four police stations, Mangalhat, Shahinayat Gunj, Habeeb Nagar and Kulsumpura. Interestingly some of those who were arrested were allegedly well-known rowdy-sheeters.

According to police records, the Shahinayatgunj police station, which covers market area comprising Begum Bazar and neighbouring markets has unearthed all kinds of adulterated food products, ranging from sweets to coconut powder, spices, rotten raisins and artificial fruit ripening chemical like Ethylene Ripener.

According to Task Force, one of the sweet makers was preparing ‘Agra Petha’ in his sweet shop at Jummerat Bazaar without any valid certificate from FSSAI the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). The product was found made with using white cement, alum, sodium hydrosulphide and other artificial food colours. “He was selling adulterated Agra Petha without any brand label,” said B Limba Reddy, DCP, Task Force.

In the case of ‘adulterated milk,’ one of the accused was injecting Oxytocin, a banned ‘hormonal injection,’ that boosts milk production in milch animal, while others making milk by using synthetic materials. The police said the drug which does not get diluted continues to stay in the milk and could lead to serious ailments like breast cancer, prostate cancer and impotency in men.

According to police officials who raided these units as part of special drive beginning from June, ginger and garlic paste was prepared by using ‘chemical powders’ also used colours for manufacturing poor quality product, named after different brands.

They held that these gangs were found adulterating the paste by mixing synthetic food colours like IDACOL food colour powder, mashed potatoes, onions, banana pulp and unbranded acid to give texture and colour of ginger and garlic paste. “We are focusing on completely eradicating the adulteration of food items. We are yet to ascertain from where these people are getting raw material,” said A Venkateswar Rao, DCP, West Zone.