The deep amber hue of a freshly brewed cup of tea is considered a marker of quality, strength and freshness. But what if that colour is manufactured and toxic? The recent seizure of 3,000 kg of adulterated tea powder and 1,500 kg of expired tea powder in Hyderabad pulls back the curtain on a food scam: Using synthetic dyes to make inferior or even expired tea look premium. The accused procured low-quality tea powder from vendors in Kolkata , Kerala and Assam and adulterated it with synthetic dyes like Sunset Yellow FCF and Tartrazine before repackaging it under different brand names and selling it as genuine product, police said. Here’s how they can affect your health. Sunset Yellow FCF: When appearance overrides safety Sunset Yellow FCF, a synthetic azo dye, is commonly used to impart a warm orange-yellow tint to processed foods and pharmaceutical products. In regulated quantities, global food safety authorities consider it safe.…