A Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) team in Nagpur recently confiscated
11,160 kilograms (kg) of black pepper from an unlicensed storage facility
in Waddhamna due to concerns that it had been tainted with dried papaya
seeds. During this operation, the FDA confiscated over Rs88 lakh worth of
goods, including areca nuts (beetle nuts) and ‘kharra’ (mixed chewable
tobacco).
11,160 kilograms (kg) of black pepper from an unlicensed storage facility
in Waddhamna due to concerns that it had been tainted with dried papaya
seeds. During this operation, the FDA confiscated over Rs88 lakh worth of
goods, including areca nuts (beetle nuts) and ‘kharra’ (mixed chewable
tobacco).
A large quantity of black pepper, sourced from Uttar Pradesh, was
reportedly stored in a warehouse in Waddhamna. Lalit Soyam, a Food Safety
Officer (FSO) with the FDA, and Prashant Deshmukh, an assistant
commissioner, raided a storage facility that lacked the proper permits to
store food. To the tune of 226 bags, black pepper was confiscated.
