Patna: Turmeric, long valued in Indian kitchens and Ayurvedic medicine for its health benefits, may pose serious dangers if adulterated, food safety officials in Bihar have warned.
Authorities in Patna and neighbouring districts say cases have emerged of both whole and powdered turmeric being coloured with lead chromate, a highly toxic chemical compound used in industrial paints and dyes to produce a bright yellow hue. Officials said the adulteration is intended to make turmeric appear more attractive to buyers but carries grave health consequences.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has declared the use of lead chromate in food illegal, citing its extreme toxicity. Ajay Kumar, a food safety officer overseeing Patna and Bhojpur districts, said recent enforcement drives had slowed, allowing the practice to resurface in local markets.
“Lead chromate is so poisonous that even soaking and washing adulterated turmeric does not fully remove its toxic effects,” Kumar said. “At best, it reduces the intensity slightly, but the danger remains.”
Officials said traders were no longer limiting the chemical to powdered turmeric but had begun treating raw turmeric roots as well. Consumers were advised to buy naturally dull or earthy-coloured turmeric directly from farms and have it dried and ground, or to rely on trusted retailers selling FSSAI-certified products.
Lead chromate is composed of lead and hexavalent chromium, both classified as hazardous heavy metals. Chromium-6, in particular, is recognised as carcinogenic. Health experts say prolonged consumption can damage the brain, nervous system, liver and kidneys, impair reproductive health, and stunt physical and cognitive development in children.
According to food safety guidelines, genuine turmeric is light yellow to orange in colour and releases pigment slowly when mixed with water. Adulterated turmeric, by contrast, gives off an intense yellow colour almost instantly and may leave shiny sediment at the bottom of the container.
Officials said anyone suspecting food adulteration should report it to the food safety department. Under Indian law, confirmed violations can attract prison terms of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs. 5 lakh.
