750 sacks of roasted chickpeas coloured with hazardous chemicals seized in UP

Roasted chickpeas are consumed by many people and are considered healthy. But be warned if you find them attractively bright yellow in colour and eat them. They could be coloured with hazardous chemicals, making them unfit for human consumption and causing liver and kidney damage, and even cancer. The Gorakhpur Food Department in Uttar Pradesh on Monday found 750 sacks of such adulterated roasted chickpeas and seized them.

The Food Department confiscated the chemically treated 750 sacks of chickpeas, which were brought from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, following a raid at a warehouse under the Rajghat police on secret information. As per the officials, synthetic yellow dye, which is used for dyeing clothes and giving a yellow colour to paper, was used to attract innocent people to buy it. The tests confirmed that a large amount of chemicals was used in the chickpeas, making them very harmful.

"An operation will be launched against everyone involved in this network, wherever it extends. This synthetic yellow dye is not meant for consumption. It is used for colouring clothes and paper. It is very dangerous, especially for children and pregnant women, and has a high potential to cause cancer. It also damages the liver and kidneys," Assistant Commissioner of Food Sudhir Singh said, adding that those found to be involved in supplying these adulterated chickpeas will have their supply stopped, their licences cancelled, and strict action will be taken against them.

According to officials, a raid was conducted at a warehouse after they received information that trucks carrying roasted chickpeas containing synthetic dyes had arrived from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh at a warehouse in Gorakhpur. Two samples were taken on the spot, and the examination confirmed that a large quantity of synthetic colour was mixed in the roasted chickpeas, they added.

"After laboratory examination, the presence of a large quantity of artificial dye in the chickpeas was verified. We recovered 750 sacks on site, each containing 40 kilograms. The sacks have been seized, and their sale has been banned. Further legal action is being taken against all those who are involved," Singh said, adding that the Food Safety and Drug Administration is conducting a statewide campaign to identify such products.

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With inputs from Gajendra Tripathi

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