Chilli Powder Sample From Major Packaged Brand Fails Safety Test

Srinagar: A red chilli powder sample from a well-known packaged food brand’s manufacturing unit in Uttarakhand was declared unsafe after laboratory tests detected pesticide residues above permissible limits, the Union Health Ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The finding came during the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s 2024-25 nationwide surveillance exercise. Acting on the lab results, FSSAI issued a recall directive, and the concerned company, Patanjali Company, withdrew the affected batch from the market, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav said in a written reply.

The ministry also clarified that no samples of Amul products have failed safety parameters under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, countering misleading reports that had clubbed the brand with violators.

Jadhav added that enforcement of food safety standards is jointly carried out by the Centre and States through routine inspections, targeted checks and random sampling across the year. Violations attract regulatory action and penalties against food business operators, he said.

The minister further said that continuous surveillance, special enforcement drives and the National Annual Surveillance Plan form key elements of the Government’s strategy to ensure safe, compliant food products reach consumers.