Tea Adulteration on the Rise in India

Health authorities in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu, India) have seized 712 kg of adulterated tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) leaves from a warehouse, only a week after confiscating 440 kg in a raid in the same city.¹ The adulterated tea was packed similar to branded tea, providing the appearance of a quality product. According to a food safety officer, the fraudsters bought tea dust (very small pieces of tea that are a byproduct of breaking tea leaves destined for use in tea bags), and adulterated it with coloring agents. The adulterated material is then sold to tea shops and bakeries who may purchase it because of the lower price.

The situation has prompted the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to issue a warning to suppliers and manufacturers of tea that selling tea containing any type of artificial colors may be followed by regulatory action.² Artificial colorants used as adulterants reportedly include graphite (also known as black lead or plumbago), Bismarck brown, iron hexacyanoferrate (potassium blue, Berlin blue), and indigo dye.^2,3

Comment: The adulteration of tea fits within a scheme of frauds that target the low-income sector in India and surrounding countries. Artificial colorants are added to cut or powdered herbal ingredients such as tea, turmeric, or chili to impart the impression of a high-quality product during visual inspection. The adulterated ingredients are then sold at a lower cost to small businesses that may be tempted to purchase based on price. 

Some of these ingredients may make their way into specialty shops abroad, but it does not appear that they are exported in large quantities. Nevertheless, manufacturers should implement testing that ensures the absence of artificial colorants in their products, since some of these represent serious health concerns.

References

1. Anonymous. 712 kg adulterated tea seized from Palakkad Rd godown. Times of India [online]. Coimbatore, India: Bennett, Coleman & Co., Ltd. 2019. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/712kg-adulterated-tea-seized-from-palakkad-rd-godown/articleshow/71414135.cms. Accessed April 1, 2020.
2. Neo P. Adulterated tea: India threatens legal action as tea consumption in the country remains low. FoodNavigator-Asia [online]. Singapore, Singapore: Walter Reed Business Media Pte Ldt. 2019. https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2019/10/23/Adulterated-tea-India-threatens-legal-action-as-tea-consumption-in-the-country-remains-low. Accessed April 1, 2020.
3. Karmakar S. Colouring tea has become a serious health concern. Deccan Herald [online]. Bangalore, India: The Printers (Mysore) Private Limited. https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/colouring-tea-has-become-a-serious-health-concern-768155.html. Accessed April 1, 2020.