Salem: 40 tonnes of adulterated jaggery seized

Salem: In the second of such a major crackdown by the district Food Safety officials on jaggery making units allegedly adulterating their production process near Salem, 40 tonnes of the natural sweetener were seized, besides 35 mini-trucks suspected to be used for transporting them from godowns. 

Omalur taluk in Salem district has hundreds of jaggery production units, but they have again come under the officials spotlight in a week amid reports that jaggery is allegedly mixed with sugar and some chemical flavours in a bid to boost profits for the jaggery manufacturer, said sources. 

In continuation of the recent raids on such jaggery units, Food Safety department officials led by Mr. Mariappan did a surprise quality check on jaggery bags that arrived at a jaggery auctioning centre at Kandampatti near here. The officials also checked the mini-trucks that transported the sweetener from their respective units. 

Sources said that officials during inspection found at least 40 tonnes of jaggery brought to the auction centre laced with chemical shiners which contributed to adulteration of the commodity. They hence, seized the entire consignment and the mini-lorries.  “We have sent the seized jaggery to the lab for further testing and based on the report, action will be initiated against the jaggery manufacturers, said Mariappan and warned them against this practice.