1300 kg colored saunf, khuskhus seized in Indore:Officers seal Siyaganj warehouse after finding tainted spices risking health of city consumers

In a major move against food adulteration, the food safety officers and district administration conducted a surprise raid in Siyaganj and seized 900 kg of coloured fennel seeds (saunf) and 400 kg of substandard poppy seeds (khuskhus). The warehouse was sealed for operating without a valid licence. Surprise crackdown in Siyaganj A team of food safety officers reached the warehouse of Jayshree Merchant on Jawahar Marg on Saturday. The premises were found packed with sacks of fennel and poppy seeds stored for wholesale supply. The proprietor, Amit Gogia, was present at the time of the inspection. Coloured fennel and substandard poppy seeds found During preliminary checks, officers noticed that the fennel seeds left dark green stains on the hands, raising suspicion of artificial colouring. The poppy seeds appeared dull and clumped, indicating poor quality and possible contamination. Officials said these products, if released into the market, could have reached hundreds of households, posing a direct threat to public health. Warehouse sealed, samples sent for testing The team seized the entire stock, 1.3 tonnes of suspect goods, and sealed the warehouse on the spot. Samples were collected under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and sent to the State Food Testing Laboratory for detailed examination. Collector Shivam Verma said the administration will not tolerate any attempt to compromise food safety. Strict action will follow once the lab reports are received. he added. More raids expected Officials noted that fennel and poppy seeds are widely used in homes and restaurants, making adulteration especially harmful. The district administration is expected to carry out more such surprise inspections in Siyaganj and other wholesale clusters in the coming days.