On December 17, Hathras police raided a spice manufacturing unit and allegedly found counterfeit spices of local brands. Anoop Varshney, the owner of the factory, was arrested by the police. The recovered alleged adulterated spices include coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric and spice mix (garam masala). The investigating team collected 27 samples and sent them for testing. An FIR will be registered under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
Various media reports suggested that donkey dung was used mixed into the adulterated spices. However, the UP government has clarified that the no animal excreta was mixed in the adulterated spices.
मीडिया एवं राजनीतिक पार्टी ने हाथरस की मसाला फैक्ट्री में जानवर की लीद मिलाने का दावा किया है। #InfoUPFactCheck: यह दावा गलत है। @dm_hathras ने बताया कि खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिकारी ने फैक्ट्री से नमूने संग्रहित किए हैं तथा मसाले में किसी भी जानवर की लीद की पुष्टि नहीं की गई है। pic.twitter.com/xz56AVVFL4
— Info Uttar Pradesh Fact Check (@InfoUPFactCheck) December 16, 2020
Taking to social media, UP government’s Information department’s fact-checking wing clarified that the reports shared by various media houses as well as political parties is untrue. As per the UP Govt’s fact-checking team, DM Hathras has said that none of the samples of adulterated spices contained dung powder of any animal.
The administration said that only when the tests are carried out will they be able to give more details on the same.
As per reports, Anoop Varshney, owner of the factory had licence to run the factory but at different location. Hence, this factory itself was illegal. The factory was sealed after the raid.
