The department's "Spices Drive" sweep covered more than 30 spice manufacturing and repacking units across all districts of Telangana.
Published Oct 14, 2025 | 3:50 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 14, 2025 | 3:50 PM
Rat faeces found in black pepper powder. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The department’s “Spices Drive” sweep covered more than 30 spice manufacturing and repacking units across all districts of Telangana, lifting over 40 enforcement and surveillance samples of commonly used spices including chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, curry leaves powder, and bay leaves for laboratory testing.
A state-wide inspection drive by the Telangana Food Safety Department has exposed serious hygiene violations at prominent spice manufacturing facilities, including the shocking discovery of rat faeces contaminating black pepper and bay leaves meant for consumer use.
The department’s “Spices Drive” sweep covered more than 30 spice manufacturing and repacking units across all districts of Telangana, lifting over 40 enforcement and surveillance samples of commonly used spices including chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, curry leaves powder, and bay leaves for laboratory testing.
The most alarming violations were detected at M/s Srivari Spices & Foods Ltd in Jalpally, Rangareddy District, and M/s Divine Spices at Kapila Nagar Colony, Bandlaguda Jagir in Hyderabad. Inspectors found pest and rodent infestation, poor hygiene conditions, absence of FoSTaC-trained supervisors, unlabelled and expired products, and lack of medical fitness records for workers handling food products.
In a particularly disturbing discovery, officials seized 15 kilograms of black pepper and 18 kilograms of bay leaves that were contaminated with rat droppings. The contaminated stock has been sent for detailed analysis. Additionally, curry leaf powder found at the facilities was unlabelled, violating the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
“Serious violations were detected at M/s Srivari Spices & Foods Ltd, Jalpally (Rangareddy District) and M/s Divine Spices situated at Kapila Nagar Colony, Bandlaguda Jagir, Hyderabad — including pest and rodent infestation, poor hygiene, absence of FoSTaC-trained supervisor, unlabelled/expired products, and lack of medical fitness records,” the Telangana Food Safety Department stated.
#FoodSafetyTelangana: As part of the #SpicesDrive, team conducted inspections across all districts of Telangana, covering 30+ spice manufacturing and repacking units. Over 40 enforcement & surveillance samples of chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander , curry leaves powder &… pic.twitter.com/eZ4Hb57MuN
— Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana (@cfs_telangana) October 13, 2025
The department has issued multiple improvement notices to the violating units and seized contaminated stocks. “Enforcement action initiated to ensure safe and hygienic spice production across Telangana,” officials confirmed, signaling a stricter crackdown on food safety violations in the state’s spice manufacturing sector.
The revelations have raised concerns about quality control in facilities producing spices that reach thousands of kitchens across Telangana daily, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance of food manufacturing units.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sumit Jha)
