Malkajgiri police seize 730 kg suspected adulterated ginger-garli

The Malkajgiri police seized suspected adulterated food products and ingredients from three manufacturing units in Hayathnagar, Alwal and Dundigal during separate food safety operations on Tuesday, including 730 kg of ginger-garlic paste and 500 kg of loose paneer.

Raids carried out across three police station limits

The seizures were made by police teams working with the M-FAST, or Malkajgiri Food Adulteration Surveillance Team, and other units in operations spread across Hayathnagar, Alwal and Dundigal.

Police said the action covered food manufacturing units where ginger-garlic paste, paneer, halwa and other sweets were being prepared or stored.

The material seized included suspected adulterated ginger-garlic paste, loose paneer, skimmed milk powder, oil, dalda or vegetable fat, food colour and an unidentified solution.

Ginger-garlic paste unit raided in Hayathnagar

In the first operation, M-FAST, along with the SOT LB Nagar Team and Hayathnagar police, raided Sri Manikanta (SMK) Golden Food Products and Ginger-Garlic Paste Manufacturing Unit at Shiva Shakti Nagar in Hayathnagar.

Police apprehended Akula Shivaiah (38), who was manufacturing ginger-garlic paste using low-quality raw material, an unidentified solution and food colour, according to the source account.

The teams seized 13 drums containing 650 kg of ginger-garlic paste from the unit.

They also seized 10 boxes containing 50 kg and 150 boxes containing another 30 kg of ginger-garlic paste.

Together, the seizures took the total quantity of ginger-garlic paste recovered in the operation to approximately 730 kg.

The teams also seized a 3.5-litre bottle containing an unidentified solution and a box of food colour.

According to M-FAST, the paste was being prepared in unhygienic conditions without following the required food safety and quality standards.

The suspected adulterated raw materials and finished products were seized after the raid.

A case was registered at Hayathnagar Police Station under Sections 223, 274 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Paneer unit in Alwal under scanner

In another operation on the same day, the SOT Malkajgiri Team-II of the Cantonment Zone, in coordination with MFAST, raided Natraj Milk and Milk Food Products at Turkapally, Alwal, under Alwal Police Station limits.

Police said the unit was preparing paneer by mixing skimmed milk powder.

Around 500 kg of loose paneer was seized from the premises.

The teams also seized two bags containing approximately 50 kg of skimmed milk powder.

The respondent, Japala Natraj (56), was handed over to Alwal Police Station personnel along with the seized material for further legal action.

The preparation method and materials found at the premises raised prima facie concerns over compliance with prescribed food safety, quality, composition and manufacturing standards.

Skimmed milk powder, oil and dalda seized in Dundigal

The teams also raided M/s Yashoda Sweet and Namkeen at Bowrampet village in Dundigal.

Police said the unit was using substantial quantities of skimmed milk powder, oil and dalda or vegetable fat in the preparation of halwa and other sweets.

The teams seized several brands of skimmed milk powder from the unit.

These included approximately 35 bags each of Shreedhi Premium Gold and Ramsons Spray Dried skimmed milk powder.

Each of those bags contained 25 packets of 1 kg, according to the seizure details.

The teams also seized six 25-kg bags of Dholpur Fresh skimmed milk powder.

Four 25-kg bags of Gyan skimmed milk powder were also seized.

The seizure list further included one 25-kg bag of Lacto Win and one 25-kg bag of Savariya skimmed milk powder.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of 21 kg of prepared and packed Yashoda Sweet Halwa.

Approximately 100 tins of Freedom Oil and 50 tins of Dalda were also seized from the premises.

The respondent, Pushpendra Baghel, 32, was handed over to Dundigal Police Station along with the seized material for further legal action.

Why the seizures matter

The operations matter because police and M-FAST reported suspected adulteration and possible non-compliance with food safety, quality, composition and manufacturing standards across multiple food manufacturing units.

In Hayathnagar, M-FAST specifically said the ginger-garlic paste was being prepared in unhygienic conditions without following the required food safety and quality standards.

In Alwal, the materials and method used for preparing paneer raised prima facie concerns over compliance with prescribed standards.

In Dundigal, police said skimmed milk powder, oil and dalda or vegetable fat were being used in the preparation of halwa and other sweets, and the teams seized large quantities of these ingredients along with packed halwa.

Source: The Hindu