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Ahmedabad Factory Sealed After Authorities Seize 10.6 Tonnes of Fake Tomato Ketchup
- •Ahmedabad Health Department sealed Aai Shri Khodiyar Grih Udyog in the Gota area for manufacturing fake tomato ketchup using potato paste instead of tomatoes.
- •Authorities seized 10,630 kg of suspected adulterated food products, including around 5,000 kg of finished goods and over 5,000 kg of raw materials.
- •The factory allegedly processed potatoes into paste and powder, mixing them with water, artificial colours, and flavours to create products sold as ketchup, chutney, and syrup.
- •Five samples were collected for laboratory testing, and proceedings to revoke the factory license and halt distribution have been initiated.
- •This raid follows a similar operation two days prior in Behrampura, where authorities seized 2,000 kg of suspected adulterated products made using a comparable process.
Key Questions Answered
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Health Department raided and sealed Aai Shri Khodiyar Grih Udyog in the Gota area after discovering that tomato ketchup was being manufactured using a potato-based paste instead of actual tomatoes. Officials seized 10,630 kg of suspected adulterated food products, including ready-to-sell items and raw materials, which allegedly utilized artificial colors and flavors.
According to AMC Food Safety Officer Mahendra Patel, potatoes were first processed into a paste and then converted into a powder. This powder was subsequently mixed with water, artificial colors, and flavors to create a product that was sold as tomato ketchup. Investigators also noted the use of ingredients like starch powder, sugar, salt, preservatives, and acid regulators during inspection.
Officials collected five samples from the facility for laboratory testing to verify ingredients and manufacturing practices, halted the distribution of the stock, and initiated proceedings to revoke the factory's license. Further legal actions will depend on the final laboratory findings, following a similar raid conducted two days prior at a factory in Behrampura.
