Banned dye found in snacks; AMC seals distributor, stops sale of 75,000 packets

Ahmedabad: A routine food safety inspection by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has uncovered the presence of a banned oil-soluble dye in a children’s snack, triggering a wider crackdown on its distribution network.

The contaminated product, sold under the brand name ‘Bachcho Ka Pasta’, was sampled from a grocery shop in Bapunagar. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the prohibited dye, prompting AMC officials to trace the supply chain to the distributor and manufacturer.

During a raid at Aman Sales Agency in Amraiwadi, AMC officials placed around 75,000 packets of the snack, weighing nearly 1,500 kg and valued at approximately ₹3.75 lakh, under a ‘stop sale’ order. The distribution agency was also sealed.

Officials said seven other food products seized during the inspection have been sent to the Public Health Laboratory for testing. These include Ketchup Kachori, Soya Chips, Billu Popcorn, Pasta Ka Nashta, Masti Ki Pathshala Namkeen, and Green Apple sugar-boiled confectionery.

According to AMC health officials, oil-soluble dyes are prohibited in food products as they can pose serious health risks, including damage to the liver and kidneys and adverse effects on blood cells.

The civic body said its investigation found that the snack was manufactured at a unit located on the Sujanpur Highway in Siddhpur, Patan district.

AMC has initiated legal proceedings against the manufacturer under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. DeshGujarat