📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shaili Sharma
Food
Gujarat Tomato Ketchup Plant Shut Down After Potato Paste and Colour Detected
✍️ India Today
🗓 18 Oct 2026, 02:02 AM
👁 20
Food safety officials sealed a Gujarat-based tomato ketchup manufacturing unit after tests revealed the presence of potato paste and an unauthorized colourant in the product.
Food safety inspectors in Gujarat have ordered the closure of a tomato ketchup production facility after laboratory analysis uncovered the use of potato paste and a non‑approved colourant in the sauce. The findings were reported by India Today, prompting immediate action under the country's food safety regulations.
The sealed plant, which supplies ketchup to regional markets, is now under investigation to determine the extent of the contamination and whether any batches reached consumers. Authorities have collected samples for further testing and are tracing the source of the unauthorized ingredients.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in the Indian food processing sector, where adherence to approved formulations is critical for consumer health. Officials have urged manufacturers to comply strictly with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines to prevent similar violations.
Consumers who may have purchased the product are advised to check packaging labels and discard any ketchup that shows signs of deviation from standard ingredients. The sealed factory will remain closed until corrective measures are verified and a clearance is granted by the regulatory body.
The sealed plant, which supplies ketchup to regional markets, is now under investigation to determine the extent of the contamination and whether any batches reached consumers. Authorities have collected samples for further testing and are tracing the source of the unauthorized ingredients.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in the Indian food processing sector, where adherence to approved formulations is critical for consumer health. Officials have urged manufacturers to comply strictly with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines to prevent similar violations.
Consumers who may have purchased the product are advised to check packaging labels and discard any ketchup that shows signs of deviation from standard ingredients. The sealed factory will remain closed until corrective measures are verified and a clearance is granted by the regulatory body.