An advisory was raised about synthetic colouring in our instant mix, naming Sunset Yellow FCF among others. It concerned Batch No. 10, which was banned and whose stock has been withdrawn from the market. The batch we sent for analysis is Batch No. 12, packed on 25 July 2026, after the advisory. Those are two different batches, and nothing below should be read as a statement about Batch No. 10.
What the laboratory tested
Seven synthetic dyes, each by HPLC, against a specification of “should be absent”.
| Analyte | Method | Result | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Yellow FCFThe compound the advisory named. | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| Brilliant Blue FCF | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| Carmoisine | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| Erythrosine | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| Fast Green FCF | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| Indigotine (Indigo Carmine) | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| Ponceau 4R | HPLC | Not detected | Absent | Not detected |
| TartrazineNot among the parameters in this report. | — | — | Not tested |
The laboratory's own conclusion, as printed: “Based on the above results, the New Fast Tea is safe for consumption.”
QSS Inspection and Testing Private LimitedOT/TEA/06-01/08/26Read the signed reportQSS is accredited by NABL under certificate no. TC-17494 to ISO/IEC
17025:2017, valid until 26 February 2027.
If you have not read a lab report before, how to read an NABL lab report walks through what each field on that PDF means and how to verify the accreditation yourself.
What this does not cover
Tartrazine is not among the seven parameters in this report. If the advisory named that compound specifically, it has not been tested yet the row above says “not tested” rather than showing a pass, because those are not the same thing.
Batch No. 10, the batch the advisory actually named, was banned and its stock withdrawn from the market. It has not been retested, so we cannot make a claim about what it contained and we are not going to imply one.
How this unfolded
- Date not stated
An advisory is issued regarding Batch No. 10
It raised concern about synthetic colouring agents, Sunset Yellow FCF among them, in the instant mix. Batch No. 10 was banned and its stock withdrawn from the market.
Batch No. 12 is packed
A later production batch. This is the batch that was sent for analysis.
Samples submitted to two laboratories
M/s INAAM Tea Agency met its legal advisor and Sadekar Enviro Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Testing Laboratory, and submitted a fresh sample of Batch No. 12. A sample was received by QSS Inspection and Testing Private Limited the same day.
Seven dyes tested, none detected
The results are above, with the signed report linked alongside them.
A broader analysis is still running
Commissioned through Sadekar Enviro Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Testing Laboratory, NABL certificate no.
TC-12207. Expected 10 to 15 working days from 6 August 2026. This entry will carry the findings when they arrive, whatever they say.Result still outstanding.
Related
- What is Sunset Yellow FCF, and why does it get tested for in tea? — the compound the advisory named, on its own terms.
- Seven synthetic colours that shouldn't be in your tea — what each of the seven dyes above is actually used for.
- How to read an NABL lab report — how to check the report linked above rather than take our word for it.
- How we test, and what testing cannot tell you — why a batch number matters more than a brand promise.
- Quality — which batch is on sale right now, and its status.