The Gujarat Health Department has sealed a factory in Ahmedabad’s Gota area following the discovery of allegedly adulterated food products. The operation revealed that tomato ketchup was reportedly being manufactured using potato-based paste instead of actual tomatoes. This action was taken at Aai Shri Khodiyar Grih Udyog located in Meldi Estate, where various products labelled as tomato ketchup, chutney, and syrup were allegedly produced using artificial colours and flavours.

The raid was executed by a team from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) Health Department. During the inspection, officials uncovered a significant quantity of both finished products and raw materials stored on the premises. The total weight of the seized items amounted to 10,630 kg, including approximately 5,000 kg of finished products that were reportedly ready for market sale.

Details of the Allegations Against the Factory

Mahendra Patel, a Food Safety Officer with the AMC, stated that the factory was allegedly substituting potatoes for tomatoes in its ketchup production. The potatoes were processed into a paste and subsequently converted into powder. This powder was mixed with water, along with artificial colours and flavours, to create a product that was allegedly marketed as tomato ketchup.

During the raid, officials discovered large stainless-steel mixing vessels filled with a red sauce, packaged ketchup sachets, and sacks of raw materials. Additionally, plastic drums containing paste-like substances and containers of finished products were found inside the factory. The storage area, which housed both ingredients and packaged goods, provided a concerning visual account of the factory’s operations.

Authorities suspect that these products were being sold as tomato-based condiments despite containing no actual tomatoes. The use of artificial colours and flavours has raised significant concerns regarding the potential health risks associated with consuming these products.

Next Steps Following the Raid

In the aftermath of the raid, the Health Department collected five samples from the factory for laboratory testing. These samples will be analysed to establish the ingredients used and verify the manufacturing process. The factory premises have been sealed, and proceedings have begun to revoke the factory’s licence. Distribution of the stock found at the facility has also been halted.

Further actions will be determined once the laboratory reports are received. The results are expected to assist officials in establishing whether the products violated food safety standards and in deciding the appropriate measures against those responsible.

This raid comes just two days after a similar operation was conducted by the AMC’s Health Department at a factory in Behrampura, where tomato ketchup was allegedly produced through a comparable process. During that operation, approximately 2,000 kg of suspected adulterated products were seized. With another facility now under scrutiny in Gota, the department’s actions have highlighted the ongoing issue of tomato-free ketchup production in the city. Authorities are anticipated to proceed further based on the laboratory findings and the results of the licensing proceedings.

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