300 kg rotten meat, 1090 kg adulterated ginger-garlic paste seized in Hyderabad : Tips to check purity of paste at home

Meat and ginger-garlic paste, together make for a delectable combo to prepare tempting main courses and even snack dishes. But what if they both are rotten and highly adulterated? Yes, you read it right.

In the most recent incident, 300 kg of rotten meat and 1090 kg of chemically-treated ginger-garlic paste were seized in Hyderabad, raising concerns over unethical market practices.According to the X post, in the first operation, the Commissioner's Task Force - Khairtabad Zone discovered a unit in Mallepally that was allegedly producing adulterated ginger-garlic paste in highly unhygienic conditions. The officials found ginger garlic paste being prepared by mixing acetic acid, synthetic food colours, gum powder and salt - all handled without any hygiene standards.

Police reported that the paste was stored in open plastic tubs exposed to dust and flies, making it "unsafe for consumption.

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During the raid, officials seized around 1,090 kg of adulterated ginger-garlic paste, 875 kg of raw ginger and garlic, chemicals used for adulteration, grinding equipment and a mobile phone, all valued at approximately Rs 2.2 lakh.It is also repored that the FSSAI's licence on display had also expired in 2018.

In another raid, executed on March 10, the officials had busted a business allegedly selling stale and long-stored goat and sheep offal to unsuspecting customers. The accused, Mohammed Afroz, 41, was reportedly sourcing offal in bulk from other states at extremely low prices and storing it for long periods in deep freezers and plastic tubs filled with stagnant water to mask foul odours. He then allegedly sold the meat, claiming it was fresh, putting public health at serious risk.

During the raid, the officials identified about 300 kg of decomposed offal, which was later seized and disposed of as per safety protocols.The officials and police have requested the public to avoid purchasing meat or food products from unauthorised or unhygienic outlets and to report such activities to authorities.How to do purity check at homeIt is said that to assess the purity of ginger-garlic paste, one should look for a bright ivory color and the fresh aroma and taste of ginger and garlic.

And one should avoid paste with mold, discoloration, slimy texture, or a foul odor, as these are signs of spoilage.Appearance: Make sure that the paste should have a light color, not be discolored or have any signs of mold or mildew.Texture: The paste should be smooth and consistent, not slimy.Smell: A fresh and good paste will have the characteristic aroma of fresh ginger and garlic.Taste: The paste should taste fresh and pungent, not bitter or stale.Read Ingredients: While buying packaged ones, make sure to read the ingredients listed on the packaging. A pure paste should primarily contain ginger and garlic, with minimal or no added preservatives or artificial ingredients.