T’gana spice units under fire for poor hygiene

As part of the ongoing Spices Drive, the Telangana Commissioner of Food Safety conducted extensive inspections across Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts, targeting spice manufacturing and repacking units. More than 30 units were inspected on Tuesday, and over 40 enforcement and surveillance samples of various spices, including chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, curry leaf powder, and bay leaves, were collected for laboratory testing.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Commissioner of Food Safety said that the inspections were part of a statewide drive aimed at ensuring the safety and hygiene of spice products being manufactured and sold in Telangana. “As part of the #SpicesDrive, the team conducted inspections across all districts of Telangana, covering 30+ spice manufacturing and repacking units. Over 40 enforcement and surveillance samples of chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, curry leaf powder, and bay leaves were seized,” the post read.

During the inspections, officials found serious violations at two major units - Srivari Spices & Foods Ltd in Jalpally (Rangareddy district) and Divine Spices located at Kapila Nagar Colony, Bandlaguda Jagir (Hyderabad). The violations included pest and rodent infestation (a large or ongoing presence of rats or mice), poor hygiene standards, absence of a FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification)-trained supervisor, unlabelled and expired products, and lack of medical fitness records for staff.

The inspection teams seized 15 kilograms of black pepper and 18 kilograms of bay leaves contaminated with rat faeces, which were sent for detailed analysis. Additionally, unlabelled curry leaf powder was confiscated for violating the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.

Officials said that multiple improvement notices were issued to the erring companies, and contaminated stocks were immediately seized. Enforcement action has been initiated to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and to maintain hygienic production conditions across the state.

The Food Safety Commissioner reaffirmed that Telangana’s ongoing Spices Drive aims to protect consumers by cracking down on unhygienic and unsafe food production practices. Regular inspections and strict enforcement will continue to ensure that only safe and high-quality spices reach the market.