4 months ago
1
Food Safety Department officials person intensified raids connected jaggery manufacturing units successful Salem and Namakkal districts, up of the Pongal festival.
Sugarcane is cultivated implicit larger areas successful Salem and Namakkal districts, including astatine Karuppur, Omalur, Deevattipatti, Veeraganoor, Thalaivasal, and Sankari successful Salem. Most of the jaggery manufacturing units are functioning astatine Karuppur, Deevattipatti, and Omalur successful Salem and Paramathi Velur, Jedarpalayam, Solasiramani, and Pandamangalam successful Namakkal. Jaggery accumulation has accrued successful these units for the past fewer weeks.
From 1 metric tonne of sugarcane, lone 100 to 120 kg of jaggery tin beryllium produced. To summation the accumulation and trim the accumulation cost, immoderate units premix achromatic sweetener with sugarcane foodstuff to nutrient jaggery. Similarly, chemicals specified arsenic superphosphate, sodium bicarbonate, soda ash, sodium hydrosulphite, synthetic nutrient colour, refined wheat flour (maida), and truthful connected are added during the accumulation of jaggery, which are harmful to health.
To forestall adulteration, nutrient information officials raid the manufacturing units and prehend adulterated jaggery, sugar, and chemicals.
Namakkal District designated serviceman for the Food Safety section J. Thanga Vignesh said that a full of 37,300 kg of achromatic sweetener and 45,510 kg of adulterated jaggery were seized from the units successful Namakkal district. About 85 samples were lifted from the units for laboratory tests, and 13 of those samples were confirmed to beryllium unfit for consumption. Notices were issued to 17 units successful the district, Mr. Vignesh added.
Salem territory designated serviceman for the Food Safety Department M. Kavikumar said that a full of 3,450 kg of achromatic sweetener was seized and a announcement was issued to six manufacturing units demanding explanation, successful Salem district.
Manufacturers successful some the districts said that jaggery packed successful 30 kg bags are sent to the markets and besides exported to assorted States, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. A container of jaggery costs betwixt ₹1,500 to ₹1,800, depending connected the quality. They said that owed to summation successful production, the terms has been reduced.
