Contaminated spices seized in Telangana during state-wide food safety drive
HYDERABAD: Commissioner of Food Safety for Telangana conducted a comprehensive inspection drive across all districts under its ongoing Spices Drive, covering more than 30 spice manufacturing and repacking units. Officials lifted over 40 enforcement and surveillance samples of chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, curry leaves powder and bay leaves.
Serious hygiene lapses found in two Hyderabad facilities
Serious food safety violations were detected at M/s Divine Spices, Kapila Nagar Colony, Bandlaguda Jagir, Hyderabad. Inspectors reported pest and rodent infestation, poor hygiene standards, absence of a FoSTaC-trained supervisor, unlabelled and expired products, and lack of medical fitness records for workers.
During the inspection, 15 kg of black pepper and 18 kg of bay leaves contaminated with rat faeces were seized and sent for laboratory analysis. Curry leaf powder found without mandatory labels was seized for violating the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
Officials said multiple improvement notices have been issued and enforcement action initiated to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety norms in the spice sector. The department added that the Spices Drive aims to strengthen monitoring of food safety and maintain quality standards across Telangana.
