Ahmedabad: Turmeric is one of the most trusted ingredients in Indian kitchens, used in everything from curries to home remedies. But civic health officials found a huge batch of turmeric allegedly mixed with an alarmingly high content of wheat flour and gram flour (besan) to increase volume. They seized 2,500kg of the stock from a godown in Old Madhupura and declared the sample unsafe after lab testing.Legal proceedings have now been initiated against the trader, said authorities.During the operation, AMC officials also seized broken cashew nuts from the same godown, with samples currently under examination at the Public Health Laboratory.According to AMC officials, the raid was conducted on May 8 in the Madhupura area of Dariapur ward as part of routine food safety inspections across the city.The inspection was held at Avinash Masala Godown opposite Arvind Bhavan. Officials said the trader was operating without a valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence.During the inspection, authorities found around 2,500kg of turmeric, valued at nearly Rs 5 lakh, and around 1,400kg of broken cashew nuts, worth approximately Rs 4.9 lakh. The total seized stock was estimated at around Rs 9.9 lakh.Due to concerns about the quality of the products, samples of both turmeric and cashew nuts were collected and sent for laboratory testing, while the entire batch was seized.Dr Tejas Shah, deputy health officer of AMC, said the turmeric sample failed laboratory standards and was declared unsafe. “The laboratory report received on May 11 showed that the turmeric sample contained an abnormally high starch content of 84.8%. Normally, dry turmeric contains around 40% to 60% starch or carbohydrate content,” Shah said.He added that the tests also detected the presence of wheat flour and gram flour (besan), indicating deliberate adulteration using starchy substances.“Based on the findings, the turmeric sample has been categorised as adulterated and unsafe under FSSAI norms. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and a court case will be filed against the godown owner,” Shah said.The results of the broken cashew nut samples are still awaited.Turmeric remains one of the most widely used spices in Indian households. It is valued not only for cooking but also for its medicinal use in Ayurvedic preparations, due to its curcumin content, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, food safety officials said adulteration in spices has become a growing concern, particularly with the use of artificial colours, starch, and low-grade fillers to increase bulk and profits.AMC officials said the food department regularly conducts inspections across the city and collects samples of milk products, snacks, bakery items, gram flour, spices, and other consumables to check for adulteration and safety violations.
