Samosa oil row in India
A viral thread accused most samosa vendors of reusing ‘black oil’ for 15–20₹ samosas (the post claimed ~99% market share), while ‘premium’ vendors fry in fresh oil and charge ~40₹ — the debate has heated up over health and pricing. The conversation pulled in 177 likes and sparked wider food‑safety chatter online (x.com) (x.com).
Hyderabad’s Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H‑FAST) and Kulsumpura Police raided an illegal samosa manufacturing unit in Jiyaguda on March 20, 2026, and initiated legal action against the operator. (ndtv.com)) Officials said the raid uncovered spoiled ingredients and repeatedly used cooking oil, and they seized stock and equipment valued at roughly ₹5 lakh. (ndtv.com)) A local report listed specific items seized — including 500 spoiled boiled eggs and about 5 kg of recycled cooking oil — and confirmed the accused was taken into custody. (telanganatribune.com)) Kerala’s Commissionerate of Food Safety has moved to penalise reuse of frying oil beyond prescribed limits with fines up to ₹1 lakh, telling businesses to hand over used oil to authorised aggregators. (english.mathrubhumi.com)) The FSSAI RUCO programme has also expanded collection of used cooking oil in Kerala, with reported UCO collection rising to 9,60,605 litres in 2023–24 as part of disposal and repurposing efforts. (newindianexpress.com)) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India caps Total Polar Compounds (TPC) in frying oil at 25% and asks food businesses to monitor oil quality under its RUCO/EEE strategy. (eatrightindia.gov.in)) Regulators additionally require larger food businesses to maintain records of oil use and disposal (thresholds such as 50 litres per day trigger record‑keeping and disposal rules), and the NHRC has asked the Health Ministry and FSSAI for state‑wise action reports on alleged widespread reuse. (arogyalegal.com)) Medical bodies and public‑health experts have warned that repeatedly heated or reused cooking oil can form toxic compounds (including trans fats and other reactive byproducts) linked to long‑term health risks, a point flagged by ICMR and practicing clinicians in recent advisories. (onlymyhealth.com))
