Hyderabad: On Monday, March 30, the Commissioner’s Task Force Khairatabad Zone teamed up with the Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) to arrest a man involved in making and distributing fake ginger garlic paste at IDA Katedhan. The authorities confiscated goods valued at Rs 22 lakh from him.
This tainted paste was being delivered to wholesale shops and catering businesses, posing a significant health risk to the public.
The suspect is Hasan Ali Rupani, a 55-year-old resident of Chirag Ali Lane, Abids. He ran a production unit called SKR Food Products. A surprise inspection revealed that the paste was being made in dirty conditions using plastic tubs.
Police discovered that Rupani mixed the paste with acetic acid and xanthan gum powder. The paste was left open to dust, flies, and other pollutants.
Rupani couldn’t provide certificates for food-grade or packaging materials. Workers used wooden sticks to grind the ginger and garlic, which is not safe.
The police seized 24 cartons containing 1 kg of ginger garlic paste, 48 boxes of 500 grams each, and 120 boxes of 22 grams. They also found 150 bags with 40 kg of dry ginger garlic each, 20 kg of xanthan gum powder, a 20-liter can of acetic acid, and five grinders.
