SRINAGAR: Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have seized 750 sacks of roasted chickpeas found to be adulterated with hazardous synthetic chemicals in a major food safety crackdown, officials said, warning that the consignment was unfit for human consumption and posed serious health risks, reports India Today.
The seizure was made by the Gorakhpur Food Department during a raid on a warehouse falling under the jurisdiction of the Rajghat police station. Officials said the chickpeas had been artificially coloured and could lead to severe health complications, including liver and kidney damage and an increased risk of cancer.
According to officials, the raid followed intelligence inputs indicating that trucks carrying roasted chickpeas mixed with synthetic dyes had arrived at the warehouse from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Acting on the information, food safety teams conducted the operation on Monday, reports India Today.
Assistant Commissioner of Food Sudhir Singh said the synthetic yellow dye used in the chickpeas was intended for colouring clothes and paper and was extremely dangerous for consumption, particularly for children and pregnant women, India Today reported. He said authorities would take strict action against the entire supply network, cancel the licences of those involved and initiate legal proceedings.
Officials said two samples were collected on the spot and laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of a large quantity of artificial colour. As many as 750 sacks, each weighing 40 kilograms, were seized and their sale banned. Singh added that the Food Safety and Drug Administration has launched a statewide campaign to identify and act against similar adulterated food products.
