A highly toxic substance – lead chromate – was being mixed with the turmeric powder at the two factories near Bodh Gaya until the sleuths despatched by the office of Bihar Food Safety Commissioner raided both the units.
Since lead chromate is yellow in colour, it can be easily mixed with turmeric powder.
Strangely enough, the two factories in Magadh division, which supplied the lethal composition to wholesale and retail shops in various parts of the state, operated without valid licence or permission from the government.
“An FIR has been lodged at the police station concerned against the traders. So far, four persons have been arrested in this connection,” said Bihar Food Safety Commissioner Sanjay Kumar.
“Apart from mixing the toxic substance, the illicit traders were also using a colouring agent,” said the official and added that heavy concentration of the chemical could cause instant paralysis of the body and the limbs.
The raiding team has collected samples which will be sent for testing in the food and drug testing laboratory.
This was the second successful raid by the office of State Food Safety Commissioner.
The officials had earlier found some sweets manufacturers in Patna using Formalin, a fatal substance, with the product to keep it fresh and prevent foul odour. Formalin is a highly toxic chemical which is usually used in morgue to prevent the decaying process of a dead body.