Toxic Fennel Alert: 40 Quintals of Cancer-Causing 'Green' Spices Seized in Shahjahanpur Raid

In a shocking discovery that has sent ripples of alarm across the state, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has unearthed a dangerous food adulteration racket in Gunara village, Jalalabad. Officials raided a warehouse owned by a local trader, Horilal Gupta, where they discovered 40 quintals of rotten, yellowed fennel (saunf) being processed with toxic chemicals to make it appear fresh, vibrant, and green. This illicit operation was systematically putting consumer health at severe risk for the sake of higher profit margins.

The Lethal Process: From Rotting Stock to 'Fresh' Spice

The investigation revealed a sinister business model: the accused trader would purchase low-quality, spoiled, and yellowed fennel at dirt-cheap prices. To bypass its natural signs of decay, the fennel was soaked in a solution of concentrated, banned synthetic dyes. Assistant Food Commissioner Vineet Kumar stated that the chemical recovered from the site resembled dry Holi powder and was used to give the spice an unnatural, bright green shine. Currently, while premium fennel sells for approximately ₹300 per kg, this poisoned stock from Jalalabad was being offloaded in the market for a deceptive ₹150 per kg, tricking unsuspecting consumers.

Cancer-Causing Hazards Found at the Scene

During the raid, authorities recovered 40 quintals of the adulterated stock alongside 8.5 kilograms of the lethal synthetic chemical. Officials have confirmed that the consumption of fennel treated with such unverified, toxic dyes poses serious long-term health risks, including a high potential for causing cancer. As the chemical sacks lacked proper labeling, the FSDA has prioritized urgent lab analysis to identify the specific composition of the poison used. Two samples of the fennel and one sample of the chemical have been dispatched to the laboratory for forensic examination.

Crackdown and Legal Consequences

The Food Safety Department has moved swiftly to seal the warehouse and file a First Information Report (FIR) against Horilal Gupta. Authorities have stated that additional charges will be pressed against the accused once the final lab reports confirm the exact nature of the toxins. In addition to the fennel seizure, the department also collected samples of cumin from a nearby establishment, KB Foods, as part of a wider crackdown on spice adulteration in the district.

Protecting Public Health: FSDA's Warning

The FSDA has issued a stern warning to traders engaging in such criminal activities, reiterating that the use of non-food grade chemicals in edible products is a non-bailable offense. The department is now expanding its vigilance across Jalalabad to ensure that other stores are not stocking this tainted supply. Consumers are urged to be cautious of spices that appear unnaturally vibrant or green and to report any suspicious quality to local food safety authorities immediately.