Pesticide Contamination Found in Popular Maharashtra Tea Brand, Triggers Statewide Crackdown
30 September 2024, Nashik: Concerns have risen across Maharashtra after traces of pesticides were detected in samples of Sapat tea powder, a well-known tea brand. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Nashik had collected these samples in May 2024, and a recent analysis by a referral laboratory in Mysuru confirmed the presence of harmful pesticide residues.
Findings in the Tea Samples
During the raids conducted by the FDA in 2024, tea samples were collected from two locations in Nashik for testing. While the initial testing at a Pune laboratory cleared the samples, further scrutiny was ordered by local officials. The samples were then sent to a referral lab in Mysuru, where pesticide levels of up to 0.23% were detected in some of the eight samples tested, with higher levels found in certain cases.
Following these findings, authorities launched comprehensive inspections of the company’s tea warehouses across Maharashtra. Several popular products, such as Sahyadri Kadak, Sahyadri Elaichi, Sapat Hotel Dust, and Sapat Parivar Family Mix, were found to contain unsafe levels of pesticides. Health experts have warned that consuming contaminated tea poses potential health risks.
Raids Across the State
The FDA conducted raids across several districts, seizing tea valued at ₹15 lakh in Pune, ₹13 lakh in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, ₹37 lakh in Satara, and around ₹1 lakh in Kolhapur.
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