Food safety department officials conducted checks at various places in the city and confiscated jaggery mixed with chemicals that were meant for sales in shops. The officials conducted inspections at Thomas Street and Range Gouder Street in the city. The sale of sugarcane and jaggery has increased due to the Pongal festival.
The Food safety department officials received a tip-off that a few stores that are located on Thomas Street in the city are mixing Sodium Hydro Sulphide to change the colour of the jaggery. Upon inspection, officials confiscated 750kgs of chemical mixed jaggery stored in shops for sale and sealed the shops. The officials have sent the samples of the recovered objects to the laboratory for testing and are awaiting results.
Officials have warned that if it is found that chemicals have been mixed in the jaggery action will be taken against the shop owners for indulging in selling products of sub-standard quality. Officials also stated that this inspection will continue in the all store houses that have stocked jaggery that is meant for sale. The officials also added that if the chemical mixed jaggery is consumed, it will affect the functioning of lungs. Hence, the public should not purchase food on seeing the colour, officials warned.